Hoosiers' perfect record in jeopardy this weekend

For the first time since 2002, the IU women's tennis team is 8-0. But when the Hoosiers travel to Tobacco Road to play Duke on Saturday and North Carolina on Sunday, their spotless record could receive its first blemish.\nWhen looking at the latest team rankings from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, it doesn't take long to find either of IU's upcoming opponents. North Carolina holds the No. 7 slot and Duke is just outside the top 10 at No. 11. \nIU, by comparison, is No. 38. \nBoth North Carolina (7-2) and Duke (0-1) have two nationally ranked doubles combinations. The Hoosiers have zero; in fact, doubles is the area that IU coach Lin Loring feels is his team's biggest weakness. \nWith sophomore Alba Berdala ranked No. 86 in singles, the Hoosiers outnumber Duke in this category. But with four players ranking ahead of Berdala in singles, North Carolina holds an advantage in this area as well.\nLoring said that at this point in the season, rankings are slightly overrated, but despite IU's perfect record, a win against either team this weekend would still be considered an upset.\n"They're obviously ranked way ahead of us," he said. "I'm sure they'll consider it an upset. It's been a while since we beat either of these teams."\nThe Hoosiers played each of these teams last year in Bloomington, losing to Duke 6-1 before falling 5-2 against North Carolina more than a month later. \nBerdala, who was a freshman then, admitted nerves were a factor a year ago. She said she felt this year's freshmen, Erin Clark and Lindsey Stuckey, could better handle the pressure. As for the next youngest players on the team, Berdala said that all of them -- herself included -- are up for the challenge.\n"All of the sophomores and juniors are used to it," she said. "I think I'm more ready to play them."\nStuckey and sophomore Stephanie Heller both missed practices this week due to injuries. Loring said he expects the two to play this weekend, but he wouldn't know for sure how the injuries affect their game until after both matches. Stuckey has lost only one singles match this spring, and the Hoosiers have won every doubles point with Heller in the lineup. Heller's fellow sophomore Sigrid Fischer said that the doubles point will be crucial in both of IU's matches this weekend.\n"These two matches are going to be very hard," Fischer said. "It's really important that we get the doubles point so that we can start out with an advantage."\nThough the Hoosiers haven't tallied any wins against either Duke or North Carolina in the past few years, Loring said his team is always competitive. While both Duke and North Carolina are experienced and talented, he said he is still optimistic about IU's chances, despite the odds.\n"We're just going to have to cut down our errors," he said. "They're certainly beatable, but we're going to have to limit our mistakes"