Ball State Tennis Falls to Cleveland State 4-3 in Close Match

The Cardinals' singles play was strong, but they couldn't overcome an early doubles deficit against the Vikings.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The Ball State men's tennis team suffered a 4-3 loss to Cleveland State in a tightly contested match on Saturday. Despite winning three singles matches, the Cardinals were unable to overcome an early doubles point deficit, ultimately falling short against the Vikings. The loss is particularly frustrating for Ball State, as they demonstrated their individual talent and resilience, but the early deficit created by the doubles point proved too difficult to overcome.

Why it matters

The match highlights the importance of doubles play in college tennis, as the doubles point can often determine the outcome of a close contest. Ball State's head coach Gene Orlando emphasized the need for the team to improve their doubles performance in order to gain an early advantage and increase their chances of winning matches against tough opponents.

The details

The Vikings gained an early 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point, with their top doubles pairing of Lincoln Battle and Carl Gedlitschka continuing their impressive form. In singles play, Ball State responded strongly, winning three matches to briefly level the score. Andrei Caragea, Drew Hayward, and freshman Zack Kimelman all secured victories for the Cardinals. However, Cleveland State ultimately clinched the match victory with a hard-fought win on the top singles court, where Jacks Lancaster of Ball State fell in a grueling three-set battle.

  • The match took place on Saturday afternoon at the First Serve Muncie indoor facility.
  • Ball State's next match is against in-state rival Butler on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

The players

Gene Orlando

The head coach of the Ball State men's tennis team.

Lincoln Battle

One half of Cleveland State's top doubles pairing, recently recognized as the Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week.

Carl Gedlitschka

The other half of Cleveland State's top doubles pairing, recently recognized as the Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week.

Andrei Caragea

A Ball State player who secured a straight-set victory in singles play.

Drew Hayward

A Ball State player who secured a straight-set victory in singles play.

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What they’re saying

“We have to improve our doubles so we can go up 1-0 instead of down 0-1. So tough to win four out of six singles against a good team.”

— Gene Orlando, Ball State head coach (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

The Cardinals will travel to Indianapolis to face Butler on Sunday. This in-state rivalry match presents an opportunity for Ball State to quickly bounce back from the defeat and address the issues highlighted by Coach Orlando, particularly in doubles play.

The takeaway

The close nature of the loss to Cleveland State underscores the importance of every point in college tennis and the need for consistent performance across all phases of the game. As the season progresses, Ball State will look to build on their strengths and address their weaknesses in doubles play to become a more competitive force in the Mid-American Conference.