Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Travel to MAC Competition For Early Season Strength Test
March 31, 2006 | Women's Tennis
March 31, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The three-way conference tie for first place will be broken this weekend when Bowling Green (13-4, 2-0) takes to the road to face a full weekend of road matches including fellow MAC leaders Miami University (7-6, 2-0), and the Cardinals of Ball State (6-8, 0-2).
Currently, the Falcons sit atop the MAC standings with Western Michigan University and Miami University. The three programs each beat their first two opponents in conference play last weekend.
"It's nice to be one of the top teams," said coach Penny Dean, "but we realize it is still early in the season."
Both Western Michigan and BGSU will square off in Oxford with the RedHawks. Saturday's match at Hepburn Tennis Courts, the site of the MAC Championships, is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start.
Bowling Green has defeated MU just twice since joining the MAC in 1980 with both wins coming in the new millennium.
"We expect to match-up similarly as we did to UB," said Dean. "Year in and out, Miami is a tough team. Because of our desire and intensity, I believe we can come out on top even on the road."
In prior matches, the RedHawks, similar to the Orange and Brown, defeated Wright State University and Butler University. Yet, MU was unable to defeat the Xavier Musketeers; the Falcons captured the narrow 4-3 win in Cincinnati.
Before the Orange and Brown face the RedHawks, they will travel to Muncie, Ind. to match-up with Cardinals of Ball State University. The Cardinals forced the Toledo Rockets to the deciding point, but dropped the 4-3 decision. Subsequently the Cardinals are winless in the MAC after two matches.
"We need to use our recent momentum to our advantage, especially on the road. Against Ball State, or any team, we can't base their strength solely on their comparative schedules," remarked a cautious Dean.
Friday's match in Muncie will see the first serve thrown at 1:00 p.m.
"We keep fighting through everything and refuse to leave the court until we win."
Falcon Tennis Notables
The Falcons are 5-4 when they are away from home; yet are 1-2 in the state of Indiana.
The last time the Falcons played on the road was March 7, 2006.
Ashley and Kelsey Jakupcin have yet to lose a MAC match in singles or doubles action.
Heidi Romer, Andrea Meister, and Stephanie Menoff are each undefeated in conference singles play.
