Hoosiers face first tough test on the road

IU began its dual-match season last Sunday with a dominating 7-0 sweep against Miami of Ohio, followed by a convincing 5-2 victory against Western Michigan. \nThe Broncos took two of three doubles matches against the Hoosiers before losing five of six singles matches. Two of these three Hoosier losses came in matches against both an individual and a doubles combination ranked regionally in the Midwest by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. \nNow, as they travel this weekend to face the nationally-ranked Kansas Jayhawks, the question will be: how much game can the Hoosiers fit in their suitcases?\nIf the trend continues, the Hoosiers could be in trouble Saturday. Drake, IU's second opponent on Saturday, could be this weekend's version of Miami. The Jayhawks have two players ranked 12th and 16th regionally by the ITA. In doubles, an area where IU coach Lin Loring says the Hoosiers need the most improvement, the Jayhawks tout the Central region's second-ranked duo. IU, however, seems to have an edge in overall talent, as their 43rd spot in the national team rankings is 16 places higher than Kansas'. \n"Hopefully we'll win on depth," Loring said. "We beat them in the middle and the bottom (of the lineup) last year."\nLast year's victory marked the Hoosiers' fourth in the five-match series between the schools. When the teams meet again Saturday, it will be in Lawrence, Kan., which Loring said could be an issue for IU.\n"We've got to try and get used to their surface and their lighting," he said. "All courts are different speeds . . . All lighting's different." \nComing into the first matches of the spring last weekend, Loring was concerned about his team's sharpness after a long winter layoff, but he said all teams faced that problem. This weekend, both Kansas and Drake will be seeing their first spring action. \nIU's depth and ability to adjust on the road will be put to the test this weekend, but Loring said the Hoosiers' stamina will be challenged as well. With only three courts in the Jayhawks' new tennis facility, Loring estimates that each of the Hoosiers' two matches will last around six hours. Junior Brianna Williams said that regardless of the results, the road trip will be a good experience for the young team.\n"The more practice with better teams, the better we'll be for (the Big Ten schedule)," she said.\nThe Jayhawks will be the toughest of Hoosiers' first four spring matches, and Loring said a win against them this weekend would be significant.\n"They're a good team," he said. "We're going to have to play very well to beat them at their place"