IU opens Big Ten play at home

Playing at home for the first time since March 6, the IU women's tennis team will hold a two-match home stand to kick off Big Ten action at the IU Tennis Center. \nThe No. 34 Hoosiers play host to rivals No. 58 Ohio State and Penn State as they look to improve upon their 1-1 Big Ten record.\nAfter splitting games last weekend in a long road trip to Wisconsin and Northwestern, IU (9-6) will enjoy the rest and rehabilitation time that comes with playing at home. \nWhile the outcome at Northwestern wasn't what IU coach Lin Loring had hoped for, he said he was pleased with the team's play. "We were right in the match, and they are one of the better teams in the country," Loring said. \nAfter its performance last weekend, IU slipped in the ITA team rankings two spots but held and improved upon its individual accolades. Playing in the first singles position, junior transfer Dora Vastag jumped one spot in the rankings to No 39. The Okemos, Mich., standout leads off against Ohio State with a 9-5 overall record.\nEarly in the season, doubles points eluded the Hoosiers often, forcing them to play catch-up in their upset wins. Loring said this weekend's doubles matches, especially with Ohio State, will be important in their stab at netting two more wins.\nIn recent weeks, Loring has mixed up the doubles lineups, searching for just the right combinations. By splitting up the No. 24-ranked duo of Schlukebir and fellow senior Linda Tran, Loring enjoyed some doubles success with two new tandems of Schlukebir and Vastag and sophomore Sarah Batty and Tran.\nBut this week, Loring is forced to juggle his lineup again. Senior Martina Grimm, one-half of the No. 38-ranked doubles tandem in the nation, will be sidelined due to a sprained ankle. With the first major injury of IU's spring season, Loring hopes to ride his depth to continued doubles success as he tries out yet another untested doubles team.\nTran said even though the doubles lineup has often been changed this season, she is confident the team can produce the same results.\n"Karie and I are willing to do whatever is best for the team," Tran said. "If that means splitting us up to make two- and three-doubles stronger, then we're going to do it because we'll do anything to win. We'll give anything a try if we think we can improve that way."\nOhio State (7-8, 2-1 Big Ten) arrives in Bloomington looking for a better performance after falling to No. 20 Michigan, 7-0. \n"Whenever we are a favorite to win a match, the last thing we want to do is underestimate a team," Schlukebir said. "I mean, it's Ohio State -- one of our big rivals. They will be gunning for us since they are the underdog, and we will have to be ready for them."\nPenn State, one of only four teams in the Big Ten not ranked among ITA's top-75, invades the IU Tennis Center looking to break a four-match losing streak.\nBut the Hoosiers will try to spoil their trip to Bloomington at 10 a.m. Sunday after first facing Ohio State Saturday, also at 10 a.m.\n-- Contact staff writer Jeff Fuldauer at jfuldaue@indiana.edu.