After competing in four consecutive matches on the road the women’s tennis team will come back home this weekend to take on Ball State.
This will be the Cardinal’s eighth straight road match, and the Falcons are hoping home court advantage will give them the extra edge.
“It’s nice to play in BG,” head coach Penny Dean said. “Hopefully we’ll have nice weather.”
The forecast looks bright for the Falcons as they head into this match after defeating Miami 4-3 Saturday.
The Cardinals also faced the Redhawks last weekend.
“The day before us they played Miami and lost to Miami,” Dean said. “It came down to the No. 6 singles again and Ball State lost that to Miami.”
Ball State dropped a 4-3 decision at Miami last Friday and then lost 7-0 at Marshall on Saturday.
Despite having a win on their backs, Dean doesn’t think it’s going to be an easy match.
“I think it will be another match that goes down to the wire,” Dean said.
The teams are almost equal in terms of their records. The Falcons are 7-10 overall and 2-4 in the Mid-American Conference, while Ball State is 7-10 overall and 1-5 in league matches.
The Falcons are looking to start the match off by winning the doubles point, which is one of BG’s weakness, according to Dean. “We know we can win matches without winning the doubles point,” Dean said. “Maybe we have to win matches without winning the doubles point. I’d rather win the doubles point.”
Last weekend the Falcons lost the doubles point against Miami but came back to win four of the six singles matches. The Cardinals are also strong when it comes to singles play. “Their strength is really in the top of their line-up, the first couple of players,” Dean said.
Ball State is led by Melissa Roach at the No. 1 singles position. She is followed by Jenny Batty and Jill Wieman.
Both Roach and Wieman have reached the 20-win plateau in singles this year.
Roach leads the Cardinals with a 24-12 overall record, including a 11-5 record at the No. 1 position. The 24 wins are a single-season career high for Roach.
Wieman reached the 20-win milestone with her three-set victory at Miami last Friday. She moved up into the No. 3 singles spot this season due to an injury to Leisa Brooks, who used to play in that spot. Wieman has a 20-14 overall record in 2002-03.
The match is set for 1 p.m. tomorrow at Bowling Green’s tennis courts. However, if it rains the match will be moved to Shadow Valley Tennis Club in Toledo at 4 p.m.
