First serve: IU begins in Cincy

The IU men's tennis team is eager to get its season started with the Cincinnati Collegiate Invitational this weekend. But for Cincinnati-native Michael McCarthy, the out-of-state tournament will feel a little more like home. \n"I guess there's a little added pressure," said McCarthy, whose hometown tennis coach is coordinating the tournament. "I'd like to do well anyway. I want to get good match experience and get going for the season."\nMcCarthy and the Hoosiers are one of five teams competing in the invitational, which includes a series of round-robin competitions between teams in both singles and doubles. The other competing teams include Brown University, Wake Forest University, Michigan State and the University of Louisville.\nMcCarthy is returning to his hometown where he was the Ohio and Cincinnati Player of the Year twice during his high school campaign, amassing a 136-7 four-year record. During his first year at IU, he compiled a 15-13 singles record and a 15-11 doubles record. McCarthy said he's ready to take his game to a greater level, and IU head coach Ken Hydinger seems to agree.\n"If you look at his numbers from last season, they were certainly not what he wanted," Hydinger said. "(It wasn't) what he is capable of, or any indication of what he can do. Mike is a good competitor, athlete and player. I am counting on him to make some major-league strides."\nHydinger expects many players on his team to step it up this season, and it starts with the invitational this weekend. \n"This year, we are going to count on some guys filling those holes, and it starts with our three seniors," Hydinger said. "We need guys to step up from what they have done in the past, but I don't think it is a step up from what they are capable of."\nHydinger laid out his expectations and the rest is up to the seniors to live up to them. John Stone and Dmytro Ishtuganov are the Hoosiers' top doubles pair, ranked No. 43 in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association doubles rankings. The other senior, Neil Kenner, played mostly at No. 3 singles for the Hoosiers last season. Kenner, who finished the year with an 11-9 singles mark overall, acknowledged the need for player emergence.\n"I expect everybody to be nervous," Kenner said. "We've all been working really hard and we're kind of worn down. But we'll step it up. All our hard work will pay off."\nThe four teams opposing IU this weekend finished last season ranked among the ITA's top 75. Louisville, Wake Forest and Brown made the NCAA tournament, with the Cardinals and Demon Deacons advancing to the second round.\n"We're all excited," Kenner said. "The more tournaments we play, the more prepared we are down the road"