Hoosiers suffer loss to Vols

The IU women's tennis team suffered their first loss of the season yesterday to No. 8 Tennessee. The Vols routed the Hoosiers 7-0. \n"The loss was a let down, but there is always next week," junior Karie Schlukebir said. "This helped us prepare for the Big Ten matches, that's what all these are for." \nIn doubles play, the team lost all 3 matches. Sophomore Martina Grimm,who played her matches with her arm bound in a sling, and freshman Dominika Walterova had a near victory at No. 3 doubles. IU had the lead the majority of the match until Tennessee rallied back and tied the score. The Vols finally defeated the Hoosiers 8-7(4). \n\"We are very proud of Martina today. She competed very well with only one arm," coach Lin Loring said. "With Martina out there playing, she really gives the rest of the team confidence knowing that she is giving it all on the court."\nThe other doubles scores reflect well-fought matches. Schlukebir and sophomore Linda Tran lost 8-4 at the No. 1 position. Senior Amanda Field and freshman Inga Radel lost their first match of the season at the No. 2 spot, 8-5. \nThe Vols also dominated the Hoosiers in all six singles matches. Although the Hoosiers had many injured players, the team was able to compete on Tennessee's level. \n"We came in as the underdogs," Field said. "Tennessee has a good team, and we got to work on our games so that helped." \nThe closest singles match was Radel's at the No. 4 position. She narrowly lost the first set in a tie break 7-6(4) and proceeded to lose the second set 6-4. \nThe Vols caused Tran and Radel's winning streaks to both come to an end. Tran had to retire because of a hip injury. She lost at the No. 3 spot 6-3, 6-2, 1-4. Radel lost at No. 4, 7-6(4), 6-4. \n"Losses are good every once in a while, in a sense that people will learn much more from losses as opposed to wins," Loring said. "This loss should really help us prepare for our future matches against ranked opponents."\nIU's defeat of No. 18 Notre Dame at the beginning of February instilled confidence within the team and assured them that they can match up to the competition. The major obstacle in the Hoosier's path is No. 4 Duke, on the schedule March 24. \nNext Sunday the Hoosiers will face Louisville and Indiana State at home. The team continues to prepare for the upcoming Big Ten matches, which begin March 9 with an away match against No. 12 Northwestern.