Hoosiers to play in regional tournament

Seven players from the men's tennis team will get their final fall tournament action beginning today and continuing through Monday in Madison, Wis., at the Region IV ITA tournament.\nThe event features 128 singles players and 64 doubles teams from 29 schools, including top players from the area.\n"It is important to show teams around here that we'll be tough," senior Ian Arons said. "It is a chance to show how we've progressed over the fall."\nArons will compete in the singles matches and is on one of the two Hoosier doubles teams with senior Milan Rakvica. Their team is seeded fifth. The other team consists of junior Rahman Smiley and senior Ricardo Jordan. While these teams are not set in stone for the rest of the year, the coaching staff is excited with the possibilities they bring.\n"Ian and Milan are going to get better and better," coach Ken Hydinger said. "They both return great and will continue to work on serving."\nThe Hoosiers have not yet decided on a third doubles team, so this weekend's tournament is a bit of a false indicator for doubles, since only two pairs will be sent while most matches consist of three teams. Hydinger said while his current teams are good, the addition of a third pair could shake things up.\nSince the tournament is the last competitive match until the Big Ten Singles Championships Jan. 13, the players are looking for success, so they can spend the following few months satisfied with their fall accomplishments.\n"I think (the tournament) is extremely important about how guys are for winter," said sophomore Zach Held, who will compete on the singles side. "If guys are down after the tourney, practices won't go as well."\nBut Hydinger is looking at it differently. He sees the tournament as a chance for his players to be noticed and even ranked if successful. IU's only ranked singles player for the weekend is Rakvica, who goes into the tournament ranked eighth. Setting the tone for the winter is not as important because he feels the team will work hard regardless of this weekend's results.\n"It's just good to get in the van and go play," Hydinger said.\nAlso competing in singles matches for the Hoosiers are Smiley, senior Paul Jacobson and junior Ari Widlansky. Jacobson comes off of one of his best performances, as he reached the sweet sixteen in the All-American Championships earlier this month. \nSince many of IU's future regional opponents will compete, a unique aspect of the Region IV ITA tournament is the chance to scout. As hard as the Hoosiers have worked to improve, so have several other teams.\n"When people are playing, everyone's looking at them," Held said. "In tennis, you're always looking ahead to the next guy"