Hoosiers start season off against Notre Dame

After starting the season traveling throughout the Midwest playing in fall tournaments, the No. 51 Hoosiers will begin the regular season by facing the No. 49 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at noon, Saturday at the IU Tennis Center. \nThe Hoosiers will look to continue their success against the Irish, as last year they traveled up to South Bend and defeated Notre Dame, 4-3.\nIU will be up against a formidable opponent in the Irish, who have many returning players, including senior Matthew Scott who is No. 68 in the country in singles. Having to face a strong opponent out of the gate will give the Hoosiers a true test of where they are, said head coach Ken Hydinger.\n"This will be a very good test for us," Hydinger said. "You don't jog onto this track, you better hit it running."\nThroughout the fall season, the Hoosiers were without one of their top players, junior Jakub Praibis, who was out due to injury and began the fall season ranked No. 70 in the country in singles. \nAfter not being able to play in the fall season, being able to get on the court is something Praibis is looking forward to.\n"I feel healthy, and I hope it stays that way," Praibis said. "It would be nice to play again."\nDespite having to sit out for the fall season, staying positive was important, Praibis said.\n"At first I was disappointed," Praibis said. "But I wasn't after a while because it was better that it happened in the fall rather than now."\nOne of the leaders for the Hoosiers this year, junior Ryan Recht, began the season ranked No. 93 in singles and finished the fall season strong by winning the second-round consolation bracket of Big Ten singles.\nRecht feels there is an advantage to getting to start the season at home.\n"It is a big advantage," Recht said. "If you can get off to a good start and start the season on a positive note with a lot of confidence, that can carry over into some later matches."\nThere is also more emphasis on team play in the regular season than in the fall as well, Recht said.\n"You get a chance to cheer everyone in the regular season since all the matches are at the same site," Recht said. "Teamwork becomes better in the main season because of that as well."\nFor IU to be successful against the Irish, three things will have to happen, Hydinger said.\n"Everybody on the team playing to their fullest abilities on a physical, mental and emotional level," Hydinger said. "That is what it is going to take for us to be successful against Notre Dame and this year."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.