Men's Tennis: Hoosiers to face rowdy crowd

"Noisemakers" was the common response when members of the men's tennis team were asked about their last trip to Ball State. \n"When we went there two years ago they brought out the noisemakers," senior Paul Jacobson said. "They were not courteous at all."\nThe Hoosiers will return 1 p.m. Thursday to the raucous crowd as they take their undefeated record on the road to face the Cardinals.\nSenior Ian Arons remembers the rowdy crowd as well.\n"They get pretty nasty there," Arons said. "They use noisemakers and whatever else they can find to distract you when you are serving. We don't get noisemakers at most of the matches we play because it is against Big Ten rules. It's like a circus."\nCircus or not, the Hoosiers do not plan to play around. Looking to improve to 5-0, coach Ken Hydinger said he expects a tough match with the Cardinals.\n"Ball State is a tough place to compete," Hydinger said. "They really enjoy beating Indiana. It will be a tough trip, and we just have to be geared up and ready to fight."\nJacobson, playing at No. 3 singles, will enter Thursday's match riding an eight-match winning streak. No. 5 Zach Held, a junior, is running a streak of his own, five matches. On the other hand, No. 6 Bernard Tsepelman, a freshman, will be looking to improve on his last performance, a loss to Alex Barragan of Kansas. \n"I really didn't play that well (against Barragan)," Tsepelman said. "I saw stuff I needed to work on. I really need to try to use my forehand to control points."\nControlling points, as well as their focus, will be necessary for the Hoosiers to pull off another win.\n"We just need to stay focused and play our game no matter what the fans are doing," Jacobson said. "It should really be a good match and a tough fight"