Seniors say farewell

This spring the IU women's tennis team says goodbye to three seniors who have been crucial in the Hoosiers run at claiming a share of this year's Big Ten title. Seniors Martina Grimm, Karie Schlukebir and Linda Tran depart from Bloomington after each left her mark in the IU record book.\nTran, a telecommunications major from Grand Rapids, Mich., played most of the 2004 season in the No. 2 singles position and in several different doubles combinations. Teaming with sophomore Sarah Batty, Tran climbed the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's doubles national rankings to No. 26, posting a 12-1 record and going undefeated in Big Ten play. \nInstrumental in several of IU's biggest upsets, Tran led the IU doubles lineup in winning the doubles point against higher-ranked Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois, a match which helped clinch a share of the Big Ten regular season title.\nCalled "Sparky" by coach Lin Loring for her team spirit and enthusiasm, Tran helped merge the returning Hoosiers' experience with the incoming talent to help produce IU's first Big Ten championship since 1998. Loring said Tran's progress over the years has been remarkable despite losing some playing time to injuries, having her around for the team's camaraderie and morale was vital to the Hoosiers' success.\n"(Linda) has always been a great competitor," Loring said. "She had some hip and leg injuries that slowed her down a little more than she would have liked. But there is no doubt that she will go down as one of the best doubles players we've ever had here."\nAlso contributing as a doubles specialist in the 2004 campaign, Grimm posted a 2004 record of 19-9 while acting as IU's most versatile doubles partner. Arriving at IU from Ellwangen, Germany, Grimm teamed with six different doubles partners in becoming the epitome of IU's team depth. Never worrying about her record, position or national ranking, Grimm emerged as one of the hardest workers on the team, making her Loring's go-to utility player. After struggling through a severe ankle sprain for the second half of the season, Grimm contributed to IU's undefeated conference doubles season as IU ran the table to claim the Big Ten crown.\nOne of IU's three international players, Loring consistently raved about Grimm's work ethic and determination both on and off the court.\n"Martina's most impressive jump was from sophomore year to her junior year," Loring said. "She went from not playing doubles early in her career to becoming one of our better doubles players. It's hard to play with so many different partners, but it's a tribute to how hard she worked. We'll miss her a lot in our doubles lineup next year."\nRounding out IU's trio of seniors is sixth-year player Schlukebir. Granted extra eligibility after missing most of her freshman and junior seasons to battle cancer, her tenacious play and team leadership has led to her being described as the heart and soul of the team. Playing both singles and doubles, Schlukebir's 26-9 overall singles record at the No. 5 position was the best in the Big Ten, earning her a flight championship at the position.\n"Karie has had a really great career here, that was unfortunately broken up quite a bit," Loring said. "She turned into a great singles player and no matter where we put her in doubles she played well."\nSchlukebir contributed her success to her coaching staff, who she said was the biggest reason she chose IU over several of the other Big Ten schools that recruited her.\n"Coach (Loring) and (associate head coach) Ramiro (Azcui) were the big reasons I chose Indiana," Schlukebir said. "They have so much faith in the people they recruit. They are going to work hard to make everyone the best player they can be, and there is no question I wouldn't be the player I am without them.\n"I wouldn't change my decision to come here for anything. It'll be something that will always be with me and I'm so glad to have been a part of it."\nIU's three seniors still have work left ahead of them as the No. 21 Hoosiers begin the NCAA Regional Tournament May 14 in Los Angeles as a two seed against No. 41 Arizona (6-12). \n-- Contact staff writer Jeff Fuldauer at jfuldaue@indiana.edu.