The BGSU tennis team will return to action Saturday when it hosts the Ferris State Bulldogs. The Falcons are fresh off their spring break trip where they won all three matches while surrendering just two points.
BG (10-4) will bring in an eight game winning streak against the Bulldogs. It matches the longest streak in the last eight years for the Falcons. This is the last non-conference match for BG before they begin their Mid-American Conference schedule.
The Falcons are paced by senior co-captain Heidi Romer and freshman Kelsey Jakupcin, who are 10-5 and 11-2, respectively, in singles play this year. Another freshman making headway is Stefanie Menoff, who is 9-2.
The stellar play of the freshman duo is no surprise to BG coach Penny Dean.
“They have been here almost a year now,” Dean said. “They are pretty much sophomores.”
Dean is also impressed with the play of Romer this season.
“She is playing the best tennis of her entire career,” Dean said. “She is hitting the ball better and harder than ever before. It’s great to see her play this way in her final season.”
Ferris State will be playing in their first match of the spring season. In the fall the Bulldogs, a Division II team, went 10-2 overall and 8-1 in the GLIAC. The Bulldogs are familiar with the Falcons, after playing in BG’s fall invitational.
“They are a darn good team,” Dean said. “They are strong at the top of their lineup and strong with their bottom three.”
Ferris State might be without its top player, Molly Basha, who is recovering from a shoulder injury. Even without the Bulldogs’ top player, coach Dean expects a competitive match.
“It is going to be a really good match, knowing their players and how they played at our invitational in the fall,” Dean said.
The first serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Bowling Green’s Keefe court if weather permits. It will be the first match this spring the Falcons will play on campus. BG was undefeated at Toledo’s Shadow Valley Tennis and Fitness Club through the early portion of their schedule, going 5-0.
