Ball State Women's Tennis Falls to Purdue in Tight Match

Despite the 7-0 loss, the Cardinals showed grit and resilience against the Boilermakers.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

The Ball State University women's tennis team battled fiercely but ultimately fell 7-0 to Purdue University on Friday, February 20, 2026, at the Schwartz Tennis Center. Though the final score didn't reflect it, the match was highly competitive, with several singles and doubles matches going down to the wire.

Why it matters

The match exemplifies the increasing competitiveness within women's college tennis, as programs invest in facilities, coaching, and player development. Facing a Power Four opponent like Purdue provides a valuable benchmark for programs like Ball State, offering opportunities to test lineups, gain experience against top-tier competition, and identify areas for improvement.

The details

In doubles, Isabel Tanjuatco and Anya Tkachyk narrowly lost their No. 3 doubles match 7-5, while Alana Bristow and Gabriella Barrera were trailing 6-5 when Purdue secured the doubles point. In singles, Tanjuatco, Barrera, and Jemima Williams-Phillips all pushed their Purdue opponents to decisive tiebreakers, with three of the four singles courts going to two-set tiebreakers.

  • The match took place on Friday, February 20, 2026.
  • Ball State will host Cornell University on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET.

The players

Sachin Kirtane

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

Isabel Tanjuatco

A player on the Ball State women's tennis team.

Anya Tkachyk

A player on the Ball State women's tennis team.

Alana Bristow

A player on the Ball State women's tennis team.

Gabriella Barrera

A player on the Ball State women's tennis team.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

Ball State (4-3) will quickly glance to rebound, hosting Cornell University on Sunday, February 22, at 11 a.m. ET at the First Serve Tennis Center.

The takeaway

This match highlights the growing competitiveness in women's college tennis, as programs invest in facilities, coaching, and player development. Facing a Power Four opponent like Purdue provides valuable experience for teams like Ball State, helping them identify areas for improvement and build towards success in conference play and national tournaments.