The clock is ticking; time is slowly running out for team

The IU men's tennis team gets healthier and healthier every day. In addition, the eight freshmen on the squad receive more experience through matches and practices, as the seniors look to finish their careers on a positive note. \nThe Hoosiers have four regular season matches remaining this season, and two of them are this weekend. \nThe Hoosiers travel to Columbus, Ohio, and State College, Penn., this weekend to play No. 14 Ohio State and Penn State, respectively. They play the Buckeyes on Saturday at noon at the Stickney Tennis Center and the Nittany Lions on Sunday at noon at the Sarni Tennis Center. \n"We have respect for both teams," coach Ken Hydinger said. "(Penn State) is a match we would like to win. Penn State doesn't have near the results Ohio State has. Ohio State will be a tough match-up. Hopefully everybody with injuries will be back for us." \nIU (6-12, 0-6 Big Ten) has struggled as of late, but half of its losses were against top 40 opponents, including three losses against top 10 teams. \nThe Buckeyes (17-6, 6-0), who have no seniors, have won 14 consecutive matches and currently sit in a tie for the top spot in the Big Ten with Illinois. The win streak for Ohio State is two shy of the all-time school record of 16. Ohio State's last loss was Feb. 3 against Georgia. \nIU holds a 16-8 all-time edge in Columbus, but Hydinger said history means nothing. This is even more true with the rash of injuries that have plagued his team. \nSenior Rahman Smiley, who missed six weeks with a persistent back injury, said Ohio State is a big match, but every Big Ten match is big.\nLast year, the Buckeyes advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing 4-1 to Tennessee, and they finished the season 25-4. The Buckeyes, under third-year coach Ty Tucker, are searching for even better results this year. \n"They are under a new coach, and their whole approach to tennis is aggressive," Hydinger said. "They are getting big crowds over there, so it so should be interesting."\nMeanwhile, last weekend the Nittany Lions (8-10, 1-5) picked up their first conference victory of the spring against Michigan State. \nHydinger said he expects a challenge from them. The Hoosiers are 10-4 all-time against the Nittany Lions and they defeated them 4-3 last year.\nThe Hoosiers' No. 1 netter is senior Milan Rakvica. Rakvica remains tied for fifth place on IU's career singles wins list with 88. He owns a 15-12 record this year and is 9-8 this spring, including 1-4 in Big Ten singles matches. \nSenior Ari Widlansky has been playing well also. He struggled to crack the singles lineup earlier this season but has been effective as of late. He has won two consecutive singles matches and has split his last four doubles contests. He is 7-4 in spring singles and 3-2 in conference action.\n"I'm keeping the ball deep," Widlansky said. "I'm not making many unforced errors, and I'm concentrating well on the court." \nHydinger is proud of Widlansky's dedication to the game.\n"He starts hungry, and he wants to be in the lineup," Hydinger said. "He's really learned how to play well. He's hungry, and he uses that to motivate himself."\nThe team was glad to have Smiley back in the lineup last weekend. Smiley has 68 career singles victories and owns 21 career conference wins. Prior to his injury, Smiley was the No. 2 singles player in the six-player lineup. \n"I'm thinking out there on the court," Smiley said. "Before, I wasn't thinking as much as I am now." \nFreshman Jakub Praibis has filled in for Smiley, but Praibis has been plagued by a groin injury as well. Praibis missed the last two matches, and his presence has been sorely missed. He brings 11 singles victories to the court and only 4 defeats. \nFreshmen Ryan Recht and Reid Strand have contributed in doubles. Junior Zach Held has seen time at the No. 2 position, too. \nWidlansky said it would mean a great deal to finish the regular season strong. He said it would assist the team and supply confidence for the conference tournament. \nNot only is the entire team optimistic, Hydinger is as well.\n"The opportunity…the opportunity is to have some satisfaction out of this season," Hydinger said. "We can do that if we close the season strong"