MUNCIE, Ind. – Conference leader Ball State defeated Chicago State men's tennis 7-0 on Sunday (April 14) afternoon in Mid-American Conference play at Cardinal Creek.
The Cougars gave the Cardinals all they could handle in doubles competition. Sophomores
Sergiu Muresan (Roman, Romania/) and
Mario Noboa (Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Ecuador/) won at No. 1 doubles 9-7 over Imanol Arconada and Alexandre Brym. Muresan and Noboa rallied to win the match after falling behind 6-3.
Freshman
Jean Paul Jones (Guayaquil, Ecuador/Cruz del Sur) and
Julian Chavez (Bogota, Colombia/) were edged 8-6 by Dalton Albertin and Austin Sansone at No. 2 doubles. Sophomores
Luis Ulloa (Guayaquil, Ecuador/) and
Rashley Yeremia (Jakarta, Indonesia/) fell at No. 3 doubles 8-4 to Patrick Elliott/Austin Smith.
The Cougars couldn't keep the momentum going in singles play. The closest match was Jones' 6-1, 6-2 defeat to Alex Brym in No. 4 competition.
“I expected so much more from our guys in singles after fighting so hard and showing a lot of spirit in doubles,” Chicago State head coach
Jack Barton said. “I mentioned this after Omaha that we have to play every point from start to finish. We have to make shots, not give them away and make opponents earn every point. Ball State showed why they have won 19 MAC Championships in 30 years and have seven tournament appearances. But we can't be intimidated by that. If anything we should have been able to play looser and show the same fight in singles that we did in doubles.”
Ball State improves to 14-7 (3-0 MAC). The Cougars are now 1-21 (0-4 MAC). Chicago State concludes the regular season on Saturday (April 20) with a home match against MAC-foe Toledo.
Ball State 7, Chicago State 0
Singles competition
1. Dalton Albertin (BSU) def.
Sergiu Muresan (Roman, Romania/) (CHIST) 6-1, 6-0
2. Imanol Arconada (BSU) def.
Mario Noboa (Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Ecuador/) (CHIST) 6-1, 6-1
3. Patrick Elliott (BSU) def.
Julian Chavez (Bogota, Colombia/) (CHIST) 6-1, 6-0
4. Alexandre Brym (BSU) def.
Jean Paul Jones (Guayaquil, Ecuador/Cruz del Sur) (CHIST) 6-1, 6-2
5. Austin Smith (BSU) def.
Rashley Yeremia (Jakarta, Indonesia/) (CHIST) 6-0, 6-1
6. Austin Sansone (BSU) def.
Luis Ulloa (Guayaquil, Ecuador/) (CHIST) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles competition
1.
Sergiu Muresan (Roman, Romania/)/
Mario Noboa (Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Ecuador/) (CHIST) def. Imanol Arconada/Alexandre Brym (BSU) 9-7
2. Dalton Albertin/Austin Sansone (BSU) def.
Jean Paul Jones (Guayaquil, Ecuador/Cruz del Sur)/
Julian Chavez (Bogota, Colombia/) (CHIST) 8-6
3. Patrick Elliott/Austin Smith (BSU) def.
Luis Ulloa (Guayaquil, Ecuador/)/
Rashley Yeremia (Jakarta, Indonesia/) (CHIST) 8-4
