No. 63 Hoosiers set for match with DePaul

Last Thursday, the IU men’s tennis team (8-2) came into its match at No. 33 Kentucky hoping for a big win. It left without one. \nDespite losing to the Wildcats 5-2, the Hoosiers returned to Bloomington feeling a lot better than they did after their other loss.\n“The last team we played that was somewhat of that level was Notre Dame,” IU coach Ken Hydinger said. “I felt like we were a lot more aggressive. I felt like we focused a lot better (and had) a lot more energy. We played considerably better overall.” \nWhile IU surrendered the doubles point, losing two of three doubles matches, juniors Dara McLoughlin and Thomas Richter teamed up for a victory at No. 1 doubles. \n“I think it was definitely the best match that me and Thomas have played,” McLoughlin said. “It was just really good (for our) confidence going into the next, bit tougher matches coming up.”\nRichter said he was also pleased with the 8-3 win and feels good about being paired with McLoughlin.\n“Both of us are pretty good at returns. It helps me at the net and he’s serving well, so I get all of the easy returns,” Richter said. “I think we’re a good team.”\nMcLoughlin and Richter look to carry on their doubles success today at 1 p.m., when the Hoosiers host No. 69 DePaul (7-5). Three weeks ago the Blue Demons were ranked No. 58 after a win against Arkansas but have since gone 3-3 and are on a two-match losing streak. While DePaul is just 1-4 against ranked opponents, Hydinger is not analyzing who the Blue Demons have or have not beaten.\n“I think you get in trouble when you figure, how should this team be, how should that team be?” Hydinger said. “If you start trying to figure this stuff too much you’ll think yourself into a hole. You know, we’re tennis players and we go out there ready to play.”\nAfter a 6-0, 6-2 defeat at No. 1 singles last week, senior David Bubenicek looks to rebound against DePaul’s George Wang. \nOther Hoosiers hoping to get back on track after singles losses to Kentucky are Richter, junior Mike McCarthy and sophomore Peter Antons. The lone singles winners Thursday were McLoughlin and Arnoad Roussel, who are both tied with Bubenicek for a team-high eight singles wins this spring. \nWhile McLoughlin is playing good tennis, 7-1 at No. 2 singles and 8-2 at No. 1 doubles, the junior said he is not paying attention to his records.\n“I don’t really look at the statistics like that,” McLoughlin said. “I just take every game as it comes and I try and get better every time.” \nThe Hoosiers and Blue Demons are set to square off at 1 p.m. at the IU Tennis Center.