Tennis Opens Mid-American Conference Play Against NIU, Ball State

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green tennis program will begin conference action this weekend as it faces Northern Illinois (5-9) in the Mid-American Conference opener on the road on Friday, March 23, followed by hosting Ball State (7-5) on Sunday, March 25. First serve is set for 1 p.m. in both Rockford, Ill. at the Boylan Tennis Center on Friday, and at the Perrysburg Tennis Center on Sunday, while both events are free to attend.

The Falcons are building off of a two-match win streak after downing UIC and Wright State at home this past weekend. Bowling Green remains undefeated at home after earning the 5-2 win over UIC and 4-3 victory against Wright State at the Perrysburg Tennis Center. Also carrying momentum into conference play is junior Paula Comella, junior Polina Radeva and sophomore Marharita-Sophia Tavpash, all of whom are on two-match win streaks, while Radeva and sophomore Ayumi Sasaki have won the past two matches at the No. 2 doubles slot. Leading the team this season is Comella, posting a 10-2 record in play at No. 1 singles.

Last season when NIU came to Bowling Green (April 21), the Huskies were able to earn a narrow 5-2 victory, although Sasaki earned a three-set victory over her opponent to pick up a point for the Falcons. Against Ball State, the Falcons fell 0-7 on the road (March 31).

Northern Illinois is off to a 5-9 start in the 2018 campaign, and holds a 4-0 record at home thus far. In hosting the Falcons on Friday afternoon, it will also mark the MAC opener for the Huskies. An eight player roster, Northern Illinois is led by three seniors and fourth year head coach Tanya Mahefu, and includes a three-player freshman class.

Off to a 7-5 start in the 2018 season, the Ball State Cardinals are led by its lone senior in Julia Sbircea and fifth year head coach Max Norris. A large upper class, the Cardinals seven player roster includes four juniors in addition to Sbircea, and just one freshman in Victoria Sec. In 2017, Ball State claimed its second consecutive MAC regular season title, while this weekend the Cardinals will open MAC play on Friday at home by hosting Miami prior to traveling to Perrysburg to take on the Falcons.

The Ball State match marks the start of a three-match home stint for the Falcons, while the final home match of the season will take place on Sunday, April 1 against Buffalo.

For the most up-to-date information on the Bowling Green tennis program, follow the Falcons on Twitter at @BGSUTennis and @BGAthletics, as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.

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