Hoosiers split final 2 home matches of regular season

Facing ninth-ranked Illinois this weekend, the IU men’s tennis team fell 5-2 on Saturday at the IU Tennis Center.\nThe Fighting Illini got ahead 1-0 by sweeping the doubles, led by defending NCAA champions Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe at No. 1, who defeated juniors Dara McLoughlin and Thomas Richter 8-5.\nIllinois also took the first three singles matches to clinch the match. While senior Arnaud Roussel and sophomore Peter Antons fell quickly at Nos. 4 and No. 5 respectively, senior David Bubenicek gave Rowe – the nation’s No. 15-ranked player – a good run at No. 2 before losing 7-5, 6-4. \nJust as Bubenicek and Rowe approached the net to shake hands, McLoughlin got the Hoosiers on the board at No. 3, finishing off the former No. 1 junior player in the state of Indiana, Ruben Gonzales. McLoughlin’s 6-1, 7-5 win avenged last year’s 6-0, 6-4 loss to the Terre Haute native. \n“Once I broke him at the start, I got the momentum and I just kept rolling,” McLoughlin said. “I got a little tight when it came down to crunch time, (but) I think I finished it out well.” \nIn the match of the day, Richter faced the fifth-ranked Anderson. The 6-foot-7 man pounded aces and was difficult to break. But Richter fought hard and sent the match into a third set before an early service break put him behind for good, ultimately falling 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.\n“It was a tough match,” Richter said. “I’m disappointed now, but it’s all right. He’s number five in the country, so it’s not a bad result. I like to play those kind of guys. They help me really get my game better because they hit stronger shots and bigger serves,, and that’s going to bring me forward.”\nClosing out the day, sophomore Mak Kendall earned the second IU victory, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 6.\nOn Sunday, IU improved to 14-9, defeating rival Purdue 6-1. The Hoosiers’ fourth Big Ten victory also capped off a successful 11-3 home campaign this year.\nIU was swept in doubles, but the Boilermakers were unable to muster a single set in all six singles matches.\n“It was senior day for Arnaud and David,” IU coach Ken Hydinger said. “Arnaud played some of the best doubles I have seen all year and jumped out early in singles. David came out, controlled the level and set the pace like he usually does. It was a good day for us.”\nBubenicek posted a 12-2 singles record at home this season, while Roussel finished 12-1.