Hoosiers topple Ohio State, fall to Penn State

But Friday's win against the Buckeyes was monumental, coach Lin Loring said.\n"This is probably one of the biggest wins we've had in the past three years," Loring said. "Ohio State had a 13-match regular-season winning streak in the Big Ten and were 6-0 in the conference this year. They were the regular season champions last year, so this was a huge win for us."\nAs they have done many times this season, the Hoosiers drew first blood in the doubles matches.\nSenior Jennifer Hsia and junior Amanda Field shut out Erica Fisk and Claudia Castro at No. 3 doubles 8-0 to extend their winning streak to eight matches. The duo moved to 17-4 overall and a perfect 4-0 in the Big Ten. \nAt the No. 2 doubles position, senior Kelly Blanch and sophomore Jessica Levin fought to stay alive, fending off three match points. But in the end, Kristy Dascoli and Monica Rincon were too tough to handle, and the Hoosiers fell 8-6.\nThe No. 2 doubles matchup of sophomore Karie Schlukebir and freshman Linda Tran against Ohio State's Sadhaf Pervez and Laura Maloney decided the doubles point. In the closest score of the match, the Hoosiers prevailed 9-8 (9-7). \n"The doubles point was obviously crucial because it gave us the 1-0 lead heading into singles competition," Loring said. "No. 3 doubles did a great job getting the early lead and both the No. 2 and No. 1 double matches were dramatic and just great matches."\nWith the doubles point, IU needed to win at least three of the six singles matches. \nAt No. 1 singles, Blanch beat the reigning Big Ten Player of the year, Dascoli, 6-2, 1-6, 7-5. Dascoli is ranked No. 30 in the country. \nField carried the momentum by defeating Rincon 6-3, 7-5 at the No. 2 position. Levin and Schlukebir sealed the deal, with three set wins at the No. 4 and 5 positions.\nThe win improves IU's record to 14-7 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten, while Ohio State dropped to 15-7, 6-1.\n"This win pretty much secures us a first-round bye in the Big Ten tournament as well as a berth in the NCAA tournament," Loring said.\nSunday, IU was on the opposite side of an upset, as Penn State squeaked out a 4-3 win.\nThe Hoosiers took the doubles point. As was the case in the Ohio State match, both the No. 2 and No. 3 tandems came out on top, ensuring the point.\nIn the singles, IU came away with wins at the No. 3 and 5 spots with Tran and Schlukebir victorious. The Hoosiers needed one more win in the remaining four spots to claim victory. Blanch and Field were both knocked off in the No. 1 and 2 positions, and at the No. 4 spot, Levin lost a tough three-set match, evening the score at 3-3. \nThe fate of the two teams rested at the No. 6 position, where Hsia battled Penn State's Leigh Ann Merryman. Hsia was filling in for injured freshman Martina Grimm. Hsia had the lead 5-3 in the final set when she started to experience leg cramps. Hsia played through the pain but fell in a tiebreak. \n"This was a tough loss for us," Loring said. "Penn State played very well and made some great singles comebacks after we took the doubles point. We are pleased to come away from this road trip with a split. Ohio State and Penn State had a combined record of 10-2 in the Big Ten heading into this weekend and we will still be in good shape for the Big Ten Tournament"