Hoosiers look to stop Illini streak

The Illinois men's tennis team hasn't lost a Big Ten match since April 13, 1997. The site of that loss? Bloomington. \nThe Fighting Illini will return to the IU Tennis Center at noon Saturday for a shot at revenge and a Big Ten record.\nSince its loss to IU nearly four years ago, Illinois has won 48 consecutive Big Ten matches, just one short of the record 49 set by Michigan from 1971 to 1976. With a win against the Hoosiers Saturday and a win at Purdue Sunday, the Illini, who have won four consecutive Big Ten titles, could capture the new record. \nMeanwhile, for IU (9-4, 1-2 Big Ten), this match means more than just breaking a streak -- the Hoosiers have their own revenge at stake. Illinois (10-3, 3-0) halted the Hoosiers' 2000 NCAA tournament campaign last year. \n"It was a close match that we could have won," junior Rahman Smiley said. "We went to some tight third sets, but we just weren't able to pull it off."\nThis year's Illinois team will come in with a bit of a different look after losing three players from last season. And with three losses this season, the No. 17 Illini have shown they're vulnerable.\n"They are a very good team, but they don't seem as invincible as they used to," Smiley said. "They have lost more than they are used to this year."\nAfter playing host to Illinois Saturday, the Hoosiers will meet No. 31 Northwestern at noon Sunday in the IU Tennis Center. Northwestern (8-5, 2-1) enters the match on a two-match losing skid, including a 6-1 loss at No. 14 South Alabama Wednesday.\n"Northwestern is a good team with a lot of depth," senior Paul Jacobson said. "They are ranked ahead of us, so they are going to provide us with a tough match."\nLast season, the Hoosiers were able to edge the Wildcats 4-3 and hope they will find themselves in the same situation Sunday. IU would like to see its record boosted above .500 with a pair of league wins this weekend, but the Hoosiers said they know it won't be easy.\n"We are going against two consistently good, quality schools," coach Ken Hydinger said. "We're going to need a lot of fight and toughness, and we are going to have to stay in the process of fighting with our heads"