Louisville a quality early season opponent

IU men's tennis team (2-0) used a team effort to defeat Toledo and Bowling Green last Saturday to win its first two matches of the spring season. The Hoosiers look to use that same formula today as they travel to Louisville to play the Cardinals (2-0) at 3:30 p.m. IU holds an 11-2 all-time mark against Louisville. The Cardinals defeated Illinois State and Northern Iowa last Saturday. \nCoach Ken Hydinger, in his 18th season at IU, knows Louisville will be ready. \n"They are going to be vocally aggressive," Hydinger said. "They are solid from top to bottom. It will be a competitive match from one through six singles and one through three doubles."\nHydinger said IU must counter and be prepared. \n"Being ready is an art form," Hydinger said. "We need to be committed to the process."\nHydinger is committed and stressed teamwork against Louisville. \n"As a team, we need to stay involved," Hydinger said. "We need to control our emotions."\nThe players concur with Hydinger. \n"We have to be supportive of others, control our emotions and stay tough against Louisville," senior Rahman Smiley said. \nThe Hoosiers have three seniors on this year's team, including Smiley. Milan Rakvica and Ari Widlansky are the others. Smiley has an overall singles record of 8-5 this season and a doubles record of 6-1. Rakvica, from the Czech Republic, played at No.1 singles all of last season. He has a singles record of 8-4 and a doubles mark of 6-0 this season. Widlansky, 4-5 in singles and 1-2 in doubles, rounds out the trio and helps teach the younger players.\nThe veteran leadership from this team will be instrumental. \n"The seniors have been big," Hydinger said. "The experienced players show the younger players by example." \nTwo of those younger players recently joined the team. They are Jakub Praibis from the Czech Republic and Juliun Vulliez from France. IU's freshmen total is at 10. \nRakvica believes he leads by example and has confidence in his game. \n"The best part of my game has been my baseline game," Rakvica said. "I like my serve so far this season far, too."\nRakvica sits in eighth place on the Hoosiers' career singles wins list with 81.\nRakvica also plays doubles and junior Zach Held said it's great to play doubles with him.\n"He is one of the best players in the country," Held said. "I know he'll be there for me."\nHeld boasts a 7-6 singles record and an 8-1 doubles record this season. He's prepared for Louisville and self-assured. \n"I have to stay relaxed in order to sustain my confidence," Held said. "I've done everything to prepare myself. No one else is in the kind of shape I'm in."\nOn the injury front, Smiley has had a minor shoulder problem. He injured it in the home opener against Toledo, but says everything is all right. \n"My shoulder is fine," Smiley said. "It wasn't really a big deal to begin with. I will definitely be ready to play Thursday."\nThe players and coaches are focused on winning the doubles point against Louisville. \n"The doubles matches will be key," Smiley said. "If we can steal that point it would help us a lot."\nThe Cardinals are led by juniors Cody Conley and Paulo Carvalho. Conley is from Floyds Knobs, Ind., while Carvalho is from Brazil. The Cardinals' coach is Rex Ecarma.\n"(Louisville) is good at doubles," Rakvica said. "Stealing the doubles point would be big."\nThe Hoosiers have high expectations, but are always looking for a solid start as they eye their road opener. \n"It wouldn't be special to start 3-0," Smiley said. "Every season we expect to start well and to win."\nHydinger agreed. "No way three wins is special," he said. "A lot of stuff happens in a long season"