Kentucky, Ole Miss on Hoosier agenda

Coming off of its first home loss of the season last weekend, the No. 38 men's tennis team will hit the road Saturday to seek success elsewhere. \nThe first stop for the Hoosiers is Kentucky. IU will face the No. 44 Wildcats Saturday to try to avenge a 5-2 loss last year. Kentucky enters the match with a 5-4 record, but coach Ken Hydinger says the team is much better than its record reflects. \n"Kentucky is always a good team," Hydinger said. "They are playing young right now, and that may have something to do with their record. They brought in a lot of good recruits and they are going to be tough."\nProceeding south, the Hoosiers will spend a few days in Mississippi before taking on No. 17 Ole Miss. The Rebels, 7-3, might be the biggest test the Hoosiers have faced to this point. \n"Mississippi is a great program," Hydinger said. "They made it to the finals of the NCAA tournament a few years ago and they are still running a quality program."\nThere will be another challenge in both matches besides the opposition. Weather permitting, the matches will be held outdoors, the first outdoor matches of the season for the Hoosiers. The team began practicing outdoors this week to prepare for the adjustments this change of setting brings. \nDuring the Hoosiers' stay, they said they hope to get some relaxation, but competition comes first. \n"Obviously, we're not going there for the tan," Hydinger said. "We are taking this chance to start playing outside and do it against some good opponents. These are two quality teams and they are going to provide us a challenge, but that is how you get better"