Michigan State Heads Back Out on the Road

Feb. 4, 2015

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The No. 60 Spartans (4-3) will travel to Indiana this weekend to face Ball State (2-3) and Eastern Illinois (0-4).

"Every place we go to, if it's not your own, there's a home-field advantage for the other team," head coach Gene Orlando said. "We've got to be ready to play."

The first match against the Cardinals has a special significance to Orlando; it's his alma mater and head coach Bill Richards is his former coach.

"It's bittersweet. It's the same coach, the same guy that gave me the opportunity to play," Orlando said. "He's one of the best coaches in the game."

Richards has the most wins all-time for men's tennis in Ball State and Mid-American Conference history, has 38 Mac titles, 8 NCAA appearances, is in the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame, and has many other awards and honors.

"When I was there, we just started the growing years," Orlando said. "They have won so many MAC titles and have had many top-25 rankings since then."

For the players, there's a little extra motivation to beat their head coach's former team.

"We will poke a little fun at Coach," senior Gijs Linders said. "We know it's special for him to go back, but at the end of the day, we want to bring home the win."

Still, it's a business trip for the Spartans.

"We're going to get both teams' best shot," Orlando said. "They'll be prepared; we have to be ready."

Last Time Out

After two weekends on the road, MSU finally returned to the comforts of home. The Spartans hosted Toledo and Detroit this past Saturday, defeating both teams, 7-0.

The Spartans won all but one match throughout the day, and had many thrilling tiebreakers. Michigan State won every match in singles play against their opponents.

What to Expect from the Ball State Cardinals

Ball State owns wins over University of Detroit Mercy, and Eastern Illinois. The Cardinals also own losses to Wisconsin-Green Bay, Cleveland State and Illinois. Ball State does not have a ranked singles player doubles pair. However, Ball State does have a 9-4 doubles team of Lucas Andersen and Patrick Elliott. Michigan State is 15-10 against the Cardinals, defeating them last year in East Lansing, 7-0.

What to Expect from the Panthers of Eastern Illinois

The Panthers are 0-4 on the year, with losses to Purdue, Ball State, Nebraska and Indianapolis. Head coach Eric Stark is in his first year at the helm, serving the two years prior as an assistant with the women's team.

The Spartans are 2-0 against Eastern Illinois, winning their match last year in East Lansing, 7-0.

On A Streak

Michigan State has won the last eight meetings with Ball State, with the Cardinals taking the two matches before that.