Pair of ACC teams to battle Hoosiers

After a tough loss last weekend to Western Michigan, 4-3, the No. 64 Hoosiers continue their homestand this weekend as they welcome a pair of teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference to the IU Tennis. \nIU first faces off against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at noon Saturday and resumes play at noon Sunday against the No. 27 Virginia Cavaliers.\nThe Wolfpack comes to IU with a record of 3-3 on the beginning of a five-match road trip, which starts at IU. NC State was a winner last time, defeating East Tennessee State. Experience could be a factor in the match, as NC State's roster contains seven underclassmen.\nThe match with the Cavaliers appears to be the most anticipated on paper, as Virginia brings a roster full of ranked players, in addition to a 9-0 record, tying its longest in school history, into Bloomington. \nIn the nine-match stretch, the Cavaliers have been able to beat six ranked opponents, including Minnesota and Northwestern, both from the Big Ten. They will have the opportunity to push their record to 10-0 against No. 1 Illinois Friday before the match with IU Sunday. \nVirginia has two players ranked in the top 100 in singles in No. 18 Doug Stewart, as well as No. 98 Stephen Rozek. The Cavaliers also bring the No. 20 doubles team in the country into the match Sunday.\nFor the Hoosiers, this will be another opportunity to get important victories before the Big Ten season and to boost their NCAA credentials. Getting to face the Cavaliers will be a good opportunity to do so, said IU coach Ken Hydinger.\n"Virginia is a great test," Hydinger said. "They have beat some teams that are in the top 10 in the country, and they are going to be very strong test for us."\nComing off a tough loss, the Hoosiers looked at practice this week as important because of how the match started and ended for the them in their narrow defeat of the Broncos last weekend.\nBringing high energy and working on failed aspects from a week ago should lead to better results in the matches, junior Ryan McCarthy said.\n"I think it is easy to get down in practice after a loss," McCarthy said. "I think going into it with more intensity than you had before, you get more out of it."\nGetting the opportunity to play a top opponent like Virginia is one the Hoosiers are relishing in. Though getting motivated for a highly ranked opponent is easy, the Hoosiers are remaining focused on the idea they should be ready for every opponent, no matter the rank.\nWith the loss last weekend, IU is provided with extra motivation for this weekend's matches against its ACC opponents, sophomore Neil Kenner said.\n"It was like a slap in the face," Kenner said. "We kind of caught ourselves against Western Michigan, and it was a nice little wake-up call that we got to start working harder."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.