Printer friendly page
Email this articleMEN'S TENNIS: Cards switch hairstyle, break losing streak
E-mail this article | Print this page
Kyle Shaner
After four consecutive losses, the Ball State University men's tennis team looked to change its luck and show its unity by getting Mohawk haircuts.?
Sophomore Joe Vallee said the Mohawks had the desired effect as Ball State improved to 3-4 on the season by defeating Valparaiso University and the University of Indianapolis 7-0 Saturday.?
"We all knew we needed to spark something," Vallee said. "The Mohawks are kinda weird but it's good. I'm glad everybody did it."?
Vallee said he got the idea for the Mohawks Friday night while he was sitting in his living room with sophomores Jose Perdomo and Jorge Rodriguez, junior Daniel Vidal and graduate assistant coach Jason Pressel.?
Vallee said he needed a haircut and wanted to do something different, so he decided on a Mohawk.?
Perdomo cut Vallee's hair, and the other players at the house decided to get Mohawks to show unity, Vallee said.?
"Everybody was in a big team spirit because we just had our big meeting," he said.?
The Cardinals had a team meeting Friday to discuss where the team was and where it needed to be, Vallee said.?
Later that night, around 9:30 p.m., the players at the house decided the entire team should cut their hair, Vallee said.?
"We had to drag a couple people over to my house but everybody came," he said.?
Junior Aaron Philips did not get a Mohawk because he just got a haircut and his hair was too short, Vallee said.?
"I liked the Mohawks," coach Bill Richards said. "We needed a little attitude adjustment and that was a good step in the right direction."?
In addition to starting the Mohawk trend, Vallee helped the Cardinals by winning his singles match against Joe Venegas of Valparaiso 4-6, 7-6 (8), (10-5).?
"He showed a lot of fight," Richards said. "He was down, saved a couple match points. The guy that he played is really a good player."?
Venegas was a Mid-Continent Conference First Team selection and played second singles for Valparaiso last year.?
"I knew everybody wanted to win 7-0, so I didn't want to be the only one who lost," Vallee said.?
Richards said he was happy the team came out with a sense of purpose, even though they knew they were favored to win.?"Sometimes when you are playing teams you know you are supposed to beat, the motivation sometimes isn't there," Richards said. "The guys did a good job of being focused and playing with some energy and enthusiasm." ?
After winning their first match since Jan. 13, Vallee said the Cardinals should keep the Mohawks for their next match Saturday against the University of Kentucky.
"If we do well, I'll keep it for a while," Vallee said. "I kinda like it."
Source: Ball State Daily NewsAll rights reserved.