AMHERST, N.Y. -- The Western Michigan men's tennis team overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat Ball State, 4-2, in the semifinals of the 2009 Mid-American Conference Men's Tennis Championships.

The top-seeded Broncos (17-8) advance to Saturday's championship match to play No. 2 Toledo at 2 p.m. Due to sustained winds over 20 miles per hour, the match has been moved indoors to the Village Glen Tennis Center.

Western Michigan started strong by taking the doubles point from the Cardinals (12-12). The No. 1 tandem of Michael Calderone and Kazuya Komada were tied early, 1-1, but then won six of the next seven games to go up 7-2. The Cardinals won the next three games, but the Broncos held to win, 8-5. The match was also tight early at No. 3, but Casey Cullen and Pablo Olivarez went on a late run to win, 8-4, and clinch the doubles point for WMU. The duo of Kevin Hayward and Zeyad Montasser were also instrumental at No. 2 doubles. They fell behind, 5-1, but hung around and fought back to 5-5 before having their match abandoned trailing, 7-6. Their ability to stay on the court prevented Ball State from building any momentum with a win at No. 2 doubles.

"I think winning the doubles point set the tone for us," head coach Dave Morin said. "To get that doubles point took a little bit of pressure off us."

The Broncos kept their momentum at the start of singles by winning the first set at the top four singles positions, but Ball State hung around. Komada had a chance to be the first match off with a 5-2 lead in the second set against Cliff Morrison. Morrison hung around and won each of the next five games to force a third set. During that same time span, the Cardinals won at No. 5 and No. 6 to take the lead, 2-1.

Calderone began to turn the tide for the Brown & Gold as he fought back from a 4-2 second set deficit to defeat Jose Perdomo 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 singles and even the match.

At that point, Hayward at No. 1, Komada at No. 3 and Cullen at No. 4 were all at the beginning of the third set.

At No. 3, Komada jumped out to another 5-2 advantage, but couldn't close the deal against Morrison. While Morrison was fighting back, Hayward was taking care of business against Eduardo Pavia 7-6 (0), 3-6, 6-2 and Cullen was leading Andres Monroy, 5-4, in the third set.

Morrison came back to tie the third set, 5-5, but Komada held serve and then earned a service break to clinch the match 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 and put the Broncos into the finals for the fourth year in a row and end Ball State's season for the fourth year in a row.

"We always have tough battles against Ball State and today was no different," Morin said. "The difference was our guys came up big in the biggest moments and we're excited to be back in the finals."

Western Michigan 4, Ball State 2
Apr 24, 2009 at Amherst, N.Y. (Ellicott Tennis Facility)

Singles competition
1. Kevin Hayward (WMU) def. Eduardo Pavia (BSU) 7-6 (7-0), 3-6, 6-2
2. Michael Calderone (WMU) def. Jose Perdomo (BSU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Kazuya Komada (WMU) def. Cliff Morrison (BSU) 6-3, 5-7, 7-5
4. Casey Cullen (WMU) vs. Andres Monroy (BSU) 6-4, 5-7, 5-4, unfinished
5. Jorge Rodriguez (BSU) def. Zeyad Montasser (WMU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Shaun Bussert (BSU) def. Pablo Olivarez (WMU) 7-5, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Michael Calderone/Kazuya Komada (WMU) def. Jose Perdomo/Zane Smith (BSU) 8-5
2. Kevin Hayward/Zeyad Montasser (WMU) vs. Andres Monroy/Eduardo Pavia (BSU) 6-7, unfinished
3. Casey Cullen/Pablo Olivarez (WMU) def. Derek Carpenter/Jorge Rodriguez (BSU) 8-4

Match Notes
Ball State 12-12
Western Michigan 17-8
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (5,6,2,1,3)
MAC Tournament semifinals, WMU advances to Saturday's championship