No. 29 Hoosiers fall to No. 23 Tennessee for 3rd loss on year

With its 7-0 loss at No. 23 Tennessee, the IU women’s tennis team demonstrated the importance of home-court advantage this season. \nThe No. 29 Hoosiers (9-3) won their first eight games of the season for the first time since 2002, but after losing three of the last four – with each loss being on the road against higher-ranked teams – the team has proven that playing at home really does have its benefits. \nLast year, IU upset then-No. 28 Tennessee at home, 5-2, for the Hoosiers’ second win against a ranked opponent at that point in the season. After defeating a ranked Kansas team on the road and No. 21 Kentucky at home earlier this season, IU had the opportunity to notch its third win against a ranked opponent Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn., but on their home court, the Lady Volunteers weren’t going to allow another upset for IU coach Lin Loring’s team. \nThe Hoosiers lost two doubles matches 8-6 in addition to three singles matches that were lost in third sets, so the 7-0 score is deceptive, Loring said. \n“We were certainly capable of winning the match,” he said. “You’ve go to win the close games and the big points, and we just didn’t do it.” \nThough other opponents have been ranked higher, Loring said Tennessee is the second best team IU has faced thus far, behind North Carolina, but their home court was a bigger factor in the win than their advantage in talent. Loring said the Lady Volunteers were definitely beatable, but he added that the 7-0 deficit wasn’t completely unexpected. \n“I wasn’t really that surprised,” he said. “We didn’t get that many sets when we played there a few years ago. ... You’re just talking about a handful of points. When you’re on the road, typically (the home-court advantage is) the difference.” \nBefore the match, junior Brianna Williams said the Hoosiers hadn’t altered their practices during the week to focus on Tennessee, but their routine may be changed as a result of the match. Playing on the road typically spotlights a team’s flaws, Loring said, and for the second time this season, IU showed its weakness is winning close matches on the road. Following his team’s 6-1 loss at Duke on Feb. 10, Loring said that a few points would have changed the complexion of the match. He made almost identical statements following Saturday’s loss, but while there were consistent problems in the two road matches, Loring said things would have been different in Bloomington – where the Hoosiers are undefeated this season. \n“I think we would have won some of the three setters,” he said. The Lady Vols may have still won the contest, he added, but in a close match away from their home court, they certainly would have felt the pressure.