Hoosiers lose in close match to No. 20 Texas Christian

The final score was 5-2 in favor of No. 20 Texas Christian University Thursday afternoon at the IU Varsity Tennis Center, but scores don't always tell the whole story. This was the case for the No. 27 Hoosiers.\n"We were definitely a little bit rusty at doubles," said IU coach Lin Loring. "They really just overpowered us, and they hit really big."\nTCU's powerful servers and strong swingers proved to be too much for IU because the Hoosiers don't really have a power-hitter themselves, making it hard to practice for that sort of thing, Loring said.\nIU, now 6-6 this spring, started the match losing the doubles point, but the team fought back hard in singles.\nSophomore Laura McGaffigan was responsible for the Hoosiers' first point, winning her match in two sets (6-1, 6-1). Loring said after the match that the Davenport, Iowa native did a really good job of neutralizing her opponent's powerful swing.\n"I knew she had a pretty big forehand," McGaffigan said. "I knew I had to be pretty consistent coming in."\nSophomore Cecile Perton looked to have control of her match and was ready to put her opponent away in the second set, but she wavered slightly and her opponent ended up extending the match to a third set.\n"My girl wasn't as much of a big-hitter," said Perton, who was responsible for the other Hoosier point. "I think it's just really hard to get to class, study for mid-terms and come here and play."\nFreshman Brianna Williams was forced to retire due to injury at the No. 4 spot, but prior to her retiring she fought her way out of a two set defeat, clawing to win the set in an 8-6 tie-breaker. She ended in the third set because the match had already been decided.\n"She competed really well today," said Loring about Williams' play. "She's really just a gamer."\nThings looked bleak for junior Sarah Batty as she dropped her first set at the No. 6 position 6-1, but she too bounced back to drop her opponent 6-3. She would go on to lose a tough 6-1 third set.\nAt the No. 1 position, TCU's No. 57 Story Tweedie-Yates bested the Big Ten Women's Player of the Week, senior Dora Vastag (6-1, 6-1).\nSenior Dominika Walterova fell at the No. 2 spot (6-2, 6-1).\nVastag and Walterova were the only Hoosier to go down in two sets.\nThe Hoosiers will play again at Penn State Sunday morning for the beginning of their Big Ten season.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Andy Romey at aromey@indiana.edu.