Hoosiers to face Michigan duo

With the match tied 3-3 against Iowa last weekend at the Varsity Tennis Courts, IU No. 3 singles player Brianna Williams tried not to think of her match against Milica Veselinovic as the one that would separate the winners from the losers.\nBoth teams were rallying around their lone player, however, and the fact was hard to ignore.\n"It was nerve-racking," Williams said. "I wanted to get it over with."\nAfter losing the first set, Williams stormed back to take the second 6-3, despite the onset of cramps. Williams said it was the first time she had ever cramped up in a match. The pain started in her calves and crept up her legs as the games wore on. During breaks in the action, the trainer attempted to alleviate some of the pain by stretching Williams' legs, but the Florida native had obviously lost some of her quickness.\nThere would be no resurrection for Williams on this Easter Sunday. She lost the third set 6-4, and the Hawkeyes escaped from Bloomington with a big win.\nWilliams' coaches and teammates rallied around her as she walked off the court. IU coach Lin Loring said she played with heart. Williams took positives out of the match as well. \n"Even though I lost, I still think I competed well," she said.\nThe No. 40 Hoosiers (16-6 overall) will rely on that team unity to carry them through their final regular-season matches on the road this weekend against Michigan State and No. 34 Michigan. \nTwo wins would grant the Hoosiers an 8-2 Big Ten record and a No. 3 seed in the Big Ten tournament.\nLoring said he expects two tough matches.\nThe Hoosiers boast a perfect 38-0 record against the Spartans, but Loring said his team isn't taking the Spartans for granted.\n"They hit with enough power that anything can happen on any given day," he said.\nLast season, the Hoosiers defeated the Spartans 6-1, with senior Sarah Batty, junior Laura McGaffigan and junior Cecile Perton collecting singles wins.\nAgainst the Wolverines IU will be slight underdogs, but the Hoosiers match up well.\n"We played twice last season and split matches," Loring said. "I wouldn't doubt if the singles split this weekend. The doubles point is going to be very important for both teams."\nThe Hoosiers beat Michigan in the regular season 4-3 last year, but fell to the Wolverines in the Big Ten tournament.\nThe parity between the two teams could very well mean that last Sunday's scenario could occur again -- with the fate of the match hinging on the final points.\nWin or lose, if the match against Iowa was any indication, Williams and company won't back down.