Sophomore takes on leadership role for IU

The men's tennis team is composed mainly of sophomores, with one senior and two freshmen. With lone senior Zach Held's shoulder injury still keeping him from playing until the Big Ten Singles Championships, the team has been looking for new leaders to step up. \nRyan Recht has been filling that role.\nHe isn't the oldest on the team, but he has quickly become one of its leaders. Although Recht is only a sophomore, his game is built around confidence, and he's been able to help instill it in other members of the team. \nDuring the weekend in the ITA Regionals, the doubles team of Recht and freshman John Stone made it further than the rest of their teammates, to round 16. The only Big Ten team they played among the 48, they outlasted was Iowa. They lost to Northern Illinois, who ended up making it to the finals.\nAlthough Recht and Stone didn't get as far as they would have liked, they knew what went wrong in the match they lost to Northern Illinois. Recht downplayed how much the loss meant.\n"They jumped on us on an off-day," Recht said.\nRecht added that Stone, who was Held's replacement as a doubles partner, has done a good job of keeping up with the other players in knowing what's supposed to get done in practice and on the court.\n"For a freshman, he did alright," Recht said. "I tell him what to expect. He's a quick learner."\nStone said Recht's influence had a positive result on his play.\n"I never know what to expect. I always ask (Recht)," Stone said. "Matches here are intense. High school practices weren't serious and we could goof around. I can't do that here."\nRecht also played in the singles qualifying draw in the ITA Regionals. \n"He had a lot of break points in his match," coach Ken Hydinger said. "He wasn't playing bad, he just didn't win big points."\nThe outcome of the weekend's tournament hasn't fazed Recht. He still has set high expectations for himself for the rest of the season. \n"I'd like to play high in the lineup. I'd like to play number one doubles and improve my singles game for the Big Ten Singles Championships," Recht said. "I need to work on becoming more consistent."\nFor now, Hydinger said the doubles lineup is not settled, and the singles positions still need to be sorted out. \nThe Hoosiers next tournament will be the Big Ten Singles Championships starting on Nov. 16.