In its first dual matches of the indoor season, IU women’s tennis lost to the University of Alabama 4-0 and beat the University of Alabama at Birmingham 4-2 on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
In doubles, which were IU’s strength in last weekend’s IU Winter Invitational, the team picked up where it left off with junior Jelly Bozovic and senior Annabelle Andrinopoulos defeating Alabama junior Moka Ito and freshman Isabella Harvison 6-4, who ranked No. 51 in the country. But the Crimson Tide responded and won their final two doubles matches to secure the doubles point over the Hoosiers.
From there, Alabama finished off IU in singles matches with three wins, leaving the other three unfinished. In its next match against UAB, IU found itself in a similar position, losing two of three doubles matches once again.
This time, IU responded and won four singles matches, snatching its first win of the season.
Freshman Rose Hu, junior Michelle McKamey and redshirt senior Caitlin Bernard all won their singles matches against UAB after their Alabama matches went unfinished. Hu and McKamey were the only two of IU's six competing players to win a set against Alabama in singles competition.
Following a weekend of experimenting with many different doubles pairings, IU stuck with the same three combinations in both matches on Saturday. Head coach Ramiro Azcui paired Bozovic with Andrinopoulos, Bernard with McKamey, and Hu with freshman Alexandra Staiculescu for the weekend.
The Bozovic and Andrinopoulos pairing went 1-1 in its matches along with Hu and Staiculescu. Bernard and McKamey went 0-2.
The Hoosiers will compete in two home matches this week. IU will take on University of Kentucky at 6 p.m. Friday and play Xavier University at 10 a.m. Sunday.
