Going on the road is a challenge all teams face, but for the first time this season IU (7-7, 1-1) will play back-to-back days at different sites. The road for the Hoosiers will be tough as they face off against No. 16 Ohio State (13-2, 3-0) tomorrow at noon in Columbus, Ohio at the Stickney Tennis Center. IU battles No. 51 Penn State at noon in State College, PA., at the Surni Tennis Center Sunday.\nWhen IU takes to the court tomorrow, it will have its hands full against the loaded Buckeyes. OSU boasts three players with 18 singles wins including top-ranked Jeremy Wurtzman, who has already picked up 27 wins on the season. \nThe Nittany Lions (11-4, 2-1) won't provide the Hoosiers with any breaks, as they were able to knock off two top 50 opponents last weekend, which propelled them in the rankings by over 20 spots. Penn State will also bring the Big Ten's reigning Player of the Week, Malcolm Scatliffe.\nHaving the opportunity to face highly ranked opponents is one the team does often, but getting the opportunity to match up against the No. 1 player in the country is a big opportunity, No. 73 junior Jakub Praibis said.\n"I'll try my best, but I will probably think of (the match) a little differently than usual," Praibis said. "I need to be as ready as possible, and this will give me a good opportunity to prove what my best is."\nLast time out, IU was able to prevail against Wisconsin 5-2, despite losing the doubles point. This time though, it could be to repeat the result with both teams boasting solid doubles squads.\nThe Buckeyes are dominating teams in doubles, losing the point only twice in 13 matches and going 12-1 in the matches in which they have won the point. Ohio State will also be bringing in a 12 home match winning streak into play tomorrow dating back to last season -- nine of which have come this year. \nIn matches against strong teams it can come down to the doubles point as the Hoosiers know, and could be important again this weekend, sophomore John Stone said. \n"The doubles is the key to winning big matches," Stone said. "I think it will come down to doubles, because our singles are good enough to beat them."\nPicking up a victory or two here would be big for the team as it would keep them above .500 before coming home for four matches, as well as get them big wins for their NCAA tournament resume.\n"In the Big Ten you just have to go out and get ready to battle," IU coach Ken Hydinger said. "It doesn't matter if you're at home or away, you have to scrap and claw and get anything you can get, and go all out, that's Big Ten."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
IU faces 2 ranked foes on the road
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