Hoosiers fall short against Hawkeyes

Playing outdoors for the first time at home all season, the IU women's tennis team split matches against Big Ten opponents Minnesota and Iowa this weekend. The No. 35 Hoosiers swept the Golden Gophers 7-0 Saturday, but could not overcome the No. 37 Hawkeyes in a tight 4-3 match Sunday.\nIn a four-hour match against Iowa that began indoors because of weather and ended outdoors, IU failed to win the doubles point for the fifth time in 22 matches.\nThe No. 57 duo of senior Sarah Batty and junior Laura McGaffigan gave up a 6-4 lead against Iowa's Meg Racette and Jacqueline Lee, losing at No. 1 doubles 8-6 for only the fifth time this season. IU's No. 2 pair of sophomore Brianna Williams and freshman Sigrid Fischer also blew a late lead to the Hawkeyes, losing in a tiebreaker, 8-7 (8), that helped give Iowa the early 1-0 advantage.\n"I think the difference in the match may have come down to playing doubles inside," IU coach Lin Loring said. "They play very aggressive doubles, and it really helped them being inside because they've got some girls that hit the ball with a lot of power."\nPlaying singles outdoors, the Hoosiers evened the match at 3-3.\nFreshman Alba Berdala cruised over Iowa's Krissy Dowlin 6-0, 6-0 at No. 5 singles for her 12th win of the season. At No. 6 singles, Junior Cecile Perton won in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. McGaffigan came through as well with a three-set win over the Hawkeyes' Hillary Mintz 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 at No. 2 singles to even the score.\nThe outcome of the match came down to the third set at No. 3 singles where Williams battled Iowa's Milica Veselinovic. Williams fought back to take the second set despite suffering from muscle cramps, but couldn't pull out the victory, falling 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.\nLoring said he was pleased with how hard Williams played through pain.\n"She played with a lot of heart," he said. "The fact that she made a match out of it was great."\nSunday also marked the final home match for All-American and All-Big Ten Batty, who fell to Iowa's No. 37 ranked Racette 6-3, 6,1. The loss didn't take away from Batty's accomplishments as a Hoosier over the past four years. She was part of the 2004 Hoosier squad that tied for first in the Big Ten. She also teamed with former Hoosier Linda Tran that same year to earn All-American honors.\nMcGaffigan, Batty's doubles partner said Batty has been a great team leader and captain during her time at IU.\n"We are all going to miss her a lot," she said.\nLoring described Batty as being a dedicated player.\n"She's a wonderful leader, she's a great student, she looks out for her teammates -- everything you could want in a student athlete," he said.\nAfter the win over Minnesota, Loring said his team had "done a good job up to now of separating ourselves from the pack" in the Big Ten.\nWith the loss to the Hawkeyes, IU (16-6, 6-2) took a step backward in the Big Ten standings, falling into a tie for third. The Hawkeyes currently hold second place.\nThe Hoosiers will have a chance to regain some ground this weekend on the road against Michigan and Michigan State.\n"Hopefully, we'll keep competing hard, and play hard on the road," Loring said.