MUNCIE, Ind. – The Toledo women's tennis team fell to No. 1 seed Ball State, 4-3, in the title match of the 2022 Mid-American Conference Women's Tennis Championships in Muncie, Ind. Sunday afternoon.

Ball State took a 1-0 lead, taking the doubles point by winning two of three matches. The Cardinals struck first, winning on the No. 3 court, but the team of Patricia Panta and Shalini Tallamraju evened the score in a 6-3 win on the No. 2 court. The Cardinals clinched the doubles team point with a 6-4 decision from the top court.

Sophomore Cassie Alcala tied the match 1-1 in a two-set sweep on the No. 1 court over Emma Peeler (BSU) for the second time this season, marking her sixth straight match win. Junior Sloane Tekse put the Rockets ahead 2-1 with a huge 7-5, 7-5 win from the No. 2 court. BSU won on the No. 5 and No. 6 courts to take a 3-2 match lead, until Tallamraju tied the match with a win on the No. 4 court. Tallamraju won the first set in an intense 7-6(4) decision, lost her second set, and won the final set 6-1 and the game.

The final decision came down to the No. 3 court where sophomore Julia Kuszynski lost her first set to Jessua Braun (BSU) and came back to win the second set 6-4, then fell 6-4 in the decisive third set.

"I couldn't be prouder of this group of eight women and the way that they represent Toledo," head coach Tracy Mauntler said. "They certainly didn't play like this was their first-ever MAC final for the program. They laid everything out on the court, and it didn't go our way. But the thing I know about these girls, is that they are fighters and I know the next time we are in this position, we are going to get it."

Mauntler praised her seniors, Eileen Carney and Patricia Panta, for their leadership.

"I'd like to recognize Patty and Eileen and all they've done for our program," said Mauntler. "They are leaving the program much stronger than when they began here. They will be missed so much."

At the conclusion of the match, Tallamraju and Teske were each named to the MAC All-Tournament Team. Teske finished the season 22-3 in singles competition and 8-2 against MAC opponents at the No.2 court.  Tallamraju went 18-6 with a 7-3 record vs. conference opponents from the No. 4 court.

Ball State 4, Toledo 3
Doubles
1. Amy Kaplan/Hannah Davies (BSU) def. Cassie Alcala/ Sloane Teske (TOL) 6-4
2. Patricia Panta/ Shalini Tallamraju (TOL) def. Mariya Polishchuk/Emma Peeler (BSU) 6-3
3. Livia Lukacs/Jessica Braun (BSU) def. Julia Kuszynski/ Christina Fuller (TOL) 6-3

Singles
1. Cassie Alcala (TOL) def. Emma Peeler (BSU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Sloane Teske (TOL) def. Mariya Polishchuk (BSU) 7-5, 7-5
3. Jessia Braun (BS) def. Julia Kuszynski (TOL) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
4. Shalini Tallamraju (TOL) def. Amy Kaplan (BSU) 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-1
5. Hannah Davies (BSU) def. Eileen Carney (TOL) 6-3, 7-6(5)
6. Livia Lukacs (BSU) def. Patricia Panta (TOL) 7-5, 6-3
 
MAC All-Tournament Team
Jessica Braun – Ball State
Livia Lukacs – Ball State
Shalini Tallamraju – Toledo
Sloane Teske – Toledo
Deniz Comlek – Buffalo
Nishitha Saravanan, Miami 
Most Outstanding Player – Jessica Braun, Ball State