Freshmen spark Hoosiers return

Off-season improvement and consistency from seasoned veterans have brought the IU women's tennis team a long way this season. Already surpassing its win total from last season just two matches into April, it has been the influx of freshmen recruits giving the Hoosiers their winning edge.\nIU coach Lin Loring, in his 26th season as the Hoosiers' coach, has achieved notoriety as college tennis' all-time winningest coach with his recruiting successes, season after season. In posting 12 undefeated conference seasons and 15 Big Ten championships, Loring brings to the 2004 squad a freshman class as promising as any he has hosted in his years in Bloomington. Freshman Laura McGaffigan, Cecile Perton and Kara Zeder have added to the squad some much-needed depth and competitive experience, which has helped IU climb to a No. 34 ranking and an 11-6 overall record.\nLast season, the Hoosiers struggled through injuries, often forfeiting points while failing to put enough players on the court. But in the wake of 2004's first serious injury, Loring's freshman class stepped up en route to an IU sweep on the weekend.\nWith senior Martina Grimm sidelined due to an ankle sprain, Perton filled in, playing both singles and doubles for the cream and crimson.\nThe Briey, France native got her Big Ten career started in the No. 6 singles position and No. 3 doubles match, teaming with senior captain Karie Schlukebir. While the French phenom may have been nervous in her substitution for Grimm, she didn't show it in her performance as Perton and Schlukebir sealed the doubles point in an 8-5 win prior to Perton notching another point for the Hoosiers in a grueling 7-5, 6-4 singles win.\n"Cecile's win was big for her, as well as for the team, because we have not been winning as much at six," Loring said in a statement.\nAs if pulling out must-have points in Saturday's action, Perton continued her stellar play into Sunday's matchup with Penn State. Although the match against the Nittany Lions was not as hotly contested, Perton continued to show why she was one of Loring's top signings as she cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 blowout of Lindsay Downing, PSU's No. 6 hitter.\nAlso adding to the long list of successful Hoosiers this weekend was McGaffigan. The next in a long line of McGaffigan collegiate athletes, this freshman has contributed all season long at the No. 4 singles position and at numerous doubles combinations. Posting several big wins this spring, McGaffigan, who attributes her smooth college transition to her coaches and teammates, has made herself at right at home in IU's lineup with big wins in upsets over Tennessee and Kentucky.\n"Coach has been great about helping us as far as not missing classes and getting used to the travel schedule," McGaffigan said. "And the seniors have been really great about helping us out in any (and) every way they can. Without them, I probably wouldn't be playing like I have been."\nSchlukebir, who recently has been teamed with Perton, in turn said the team would not be where it is without the depth and competitive spirit the freshman bring to this year's team.\n"It's been so much different from last year when we struggled to have a full lineup," Schlukebir said. "It's definitely refreshing to know that if someone goes out, there is that extra person who can step in and perform just as well."\nWith the uncertainly of recovery time after ankle sprains, the trio of freshmen return to practice today to prepare for next week's matchup. Grimm hit for a limited time Sunday and is expected to return to practice this week, but McGaffigan and the rest of the freshman class said it is their job to be ready, regardless of Grimm's condition.\nThe next task for this season's freshman class comes this weekend on the road against Big Ten foes Michigan and Michigan State.\n-- Contact staff writer Jeff Fuldauer at jfuldaue@indiana.edu.