IU yields to Wildcats at Big Tens

In terms of collegiate men's tennis, it's hard to tell Hoosiers from Wildcats. \nThe Hoosiers had a 12-11 record. The Wildcats were 11-11. The Hoosiers were the No. 4 seed. The Wildcats were the No. 5. \nIU won the first game in the series, 4-3 April 2. Friday, Northwestern had the last say in the even-keeled match up, besting the Hoosiers by their own 4-3 tally and potentially ending IU's team season. \nThe match, which took place at Illinois' Illini Grove before being moved inside due to inclement weather, was a disheartening loss for a Hoosier team dreaming of greater success, said head coach Ken Hydinger.\n"It was one of those matches that was as close as can be," he said. "It was absolutely heartbreaking to lose."\nIU started off the day by winning the doubles point in quick fashion. At the No. 2 spot, senior Ryan Recht and junior John Stone notched their 14th win of the year with a convincing victory of 8-3 over sophomore Christian Tempke and junior Adam Schaechterle. \nAt the No. 3 doubles spot, freshmen Michael McCarthy and Dara McLoughlin notched a tough 8-6 win. Recht said that doubles was the highlight of the day for the Hoosiers.\n"We played extremely aggressively," he said. "John and I played so well that it forced them to hit great shots in order just to win points."\nIn singles action, IU failed to carry over the momentum generated by dominant doubles performances. Senior Jakub Praibis, IU's No. 1 player all season, lost to Northwestern's Tommy Hanus 7-5, 6-2, at the top singles position. \nSophomore David Bubenicek countered the early loss with a win at the No. 3 spot, 7-5, 6-3. The win gave Bubenicek his 21st of the year. \nStone notched IU's only other victory on the day, defeating Schaechterle at the No. 6 position, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6. The win was Stone's fifth in a row.\nClose losses and wins defined the day for IU, Hydinger said.\n"There were a bunch of ways we could've lost, or won, this match," he said. "We just came up a little bit short."\nFrom here, IU will be forced to play the waiting game. While Hydinger says an NCAA team tournament berth isn't likely, Praibis could still qualify for the singles tournament, and represent the Hoosiers in national play. \n"We just wait and see right now," Hydinger said. "The guys, like other students, will be focusing on their finals and from there we see if we'll be playing as a team or not. The chances are slim."\nIf the loss did mark IU's final match of the season, Hydinger was pleased with the effort the Hoosiers left on the court.\n"Everybody laid it on the line," he said. "There were some nerves at parts, but everybody wanted that second match, and the efforts proved that."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Eamonn Brennan at eabrenna@indiana.edu.