2 Hoosiers reach semifinals in Singles Championships

IU senior David Bubenicek fell in the finals, but junior Dara McLoughlin advanced to the semifinals of the men's tennis Big Ten Singles Championship, hosted by Michigan. The host team's player, Matko Maravic, defeated McLoughlin in the semifinals 6-1, 6-2 and then prevailed against Bubenicek 6-3, 6-2 to take home the championship Monday.\n"I was very pleased," IU coach Ken Hydinger said of his team's play. "We had two guys playing good, quality tennis, and that's what we were trying to establish this fall."\nBubenicek, a No. 8 seed in the tournament, began his journey to the finals by defeating Juan Gomez of Northwestern 6-1, 6-2 and Michael Flowers of Michigan State 6-4, 6-0 on the first day of the singles championship.\nHe advanced to the semifinals with a pair of wins against No. 10 seed Ryan Heller and Peter Aarts.\nIn the semifinals, Bubenicek defeated No. 4 seed Nolan Polley of Wisconsin 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to set up his meeting with Maravic.\n"I'm proud of David," Hydinger said. "He fought hard and played at a good level of tennis. He said he wanted to win this tournament, and he made a heck of a run at it. His game and expectations have improved."\nAlthough McLoughlin came up short in the semifinals, he launched his way to the semifinals with some hard-earned victories. He opened the singles championship by defeating John Allare of Michigan State 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 in a three-set match and Scott Warner of rival Purdue 6-3, 6-2.\nMcLoughlin continued his success by overtaking Drew Eberly of Ohio State 6-4, 7-5 and earned another hard-fought victory in a three-set match, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4.\nIn the semifinals, however, he ran into an opponent whom he could not overtake.\n"The kid hardly makes mistakes," Hydinger said of Michigan's Maravic. "He's always ready to play, is a tough competitor. He really passes well and moves well."\nMcLoughlin did not believe in the moral victory that is often preached about after a solid but disappointing performance.\n"I wasn't satisfied," he said. "It would have been nice to get to the finals. I wasn't happy with how I played."\nThe problem was how he started out of the gate, McLoughlin said.\n"I started my matches slowly," he said. "I need to start having better rhythm in my matches."\nThe Hoosiers will not be in action until January 2007, giving them plenty of time to take what they have learned in their season so far and improve on it. Hydinger said his team will work on such things as increasing its intensity level and the running program, but it all starts with how bad his team wants it.\n"Things are given to athletes," Hydinger said. "The big factor is our guys have to do this on their own. Hopefully, they have the desire and determination and not wait for it to be handed to them."\nIU returns to the court Jan. 15, 2007, to host Morehead State University.