Hoosiers get ready for Big Ten competition

The 8-8 IU men’s tennis team is currently on a two-game winning streak heading into Big Ten competition this weekend. After losing three consecutive away matches, IU was able to get its first road win against Florida Atlantic on March 13.

Now they will have to travel to University Park, Pa., to compete against Penn State at 2 p.m. Friday followed by a competition in Columbus, Ohio, against No. 5 Ohio State on Sunday.

The Hoosiers started the season ranked in the top 25 and lost five of their first six matches. Now, IU is not even ranked among the top 75 teams in the country.

IU Coach Randy Bloemendaal said his tennis teams in recent years have seen more success than this year’s team.

“Our expectations have been higher, no doubt about it, to do better than this,” he said.

The Hoosiers have a young team — five of their eight players are freshmen — which could possibly help explain why they struggle on the road. Bloemendaal said the problem has been that his players struggle with the pressure matches. Five out of IU’s eight losses have been by one point.

“Just a few points here and there under pressure make a difference. That is what made us good last year,” Bloemendaal said.

IU has four consecutive matches against Big Ten opponents scheduled, two this weekend against Penn State and Ohio State on the road and two at home against Michigan State and Michigan the following weekend.

Bloemendaal said the key to win the matches against conference teams is to win the doubles point.

Assistant coach Patrick Hynes said the close matches the Hoosiers have played in so far this season will help them succeed in the Big Ten.

“The matches that we have lost have been close and going into the Big Ten that is really going to help us out,” Hynes said. “We need to be in those situations for us to get better because the matches when we get into the Big Ten are going to be like that.”

IU will be looking to excel in the Big Ten Conference by starting off with a win Friday. The Nittany Lions are 6-8 in the season and are 3-3 at home. They are coming off of a 4-3 road win against Rice on March 9. The IU will be able to use this competition to help prepare for what is to come on Sunday against Ohio State. The Buckeyes defeated the Nittany Lions in a 7-0 shutout in University Park earlier this month.

“Ohio State always has a lot of depth so pretty much I think every guy on their team is going to bring a challenge.” Hynes said. “Penn State is a little bit stronger than they were last year and they have pretty good depth too.”