Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Play Host to Marquette, DePaul and Butler
2/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 8, 2006
Weekly Notes - Marquette, DePaul and Butler
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - After a week off, the No. 31 Indiana women's tennis team looks to improve its record with three matches against BIG EAST opponents Marquette, DePaul and in-state foe Butler. The Hoosiers will face the Golden Eagles on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. IU will square off against the Blue Demons at 10 a.m., and the Bulldogs at 3 p.m., on Sunday, Feb. 12.
Last Time Out
The Hoosiers split a doubleheader on Jan. 29 to move to 4-1 on the young season. IU opened the day with then-No. 14 Duke. Despite close matches at every position, Indiana fell 6-1. IU bounced back to claim a 7-0 victory over Ball State later that day. Sophomore Brianna Williams was the only Hoosier to claim a point against the Blue Devils, while freshman Stephanie Heller and Marah Calvo both earned their first career singles and doubles wins over the Cardinals. For the fourth time this season, Indiana won all three doubles matches to overwhelmingly claim the doubles point of the match.
4 Up, 4 Down
Sophomore Brianna Williams is making her second season as a Hoosier a memorable one. The Tampa, Fla., product boasts an undefeated 4-0 singles record and a 3-1 ledger in doubles play. Against a tough Duke opponent, Williams recorded the Hoosiers' only point in straight sets at the No. 3 position.
Seeing Double
Doubles have always been a strength of Indiana tennis and 2006 is no different. So far this season, the Hoosiers have won all three doubles matches to overwhelmingly claim the doubles point on four occasions. When IU claims the doubles point, they are 4-0.
The Hoosier-Golden Eagle Series
The last time Indiana faced Marquette was on Feb. 26, 2005 in Bloomington. In the first match of the day's doubleheader, the Hoosiers blanked the Golden Eagles, 7-0. IU leads the series with MU, 10-1. Additionally, Indiana won six of the last seven contests.
The Hoosier-Blue Demon
Last season, the Hoosiers opened the spring season on Jan. 22, 2005 with a 6-1 victory over DePaul. For the series, IU has claimed two of the last three meetings with the Blue Demons.
The Hoosier-Bulldog Series
After dropping a tough battle to then-No. 19 Texas A&M on Feb. 13, the Hoosiers rebounded in the second match of day to blank Butler, 7-0. Indiana has never lost to Butler in four contests.
Scouting Marquette
Marquette enters the match with the Hoosier with a 2-3 overall record. The Golden Eagles notched wins over Northern Illinois and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Marquette suffered season-opening losses from ranked Big Ten foes Illinois and Iowa and dropped a match to the University of Illinois-Chicago. Before facing the Hoosiers, Marquette will take on Indiana State on Feb. 10.
Scouting DePaul
DePaul enters the competition with a 5-2 overall ledger with wins over Illinois State, Wisconsin-Green Bay, IUPUI, Bowling Green and Butler. The Blue Demons two losses came from a close 4-3 match against highly-ranked Michigan and a 6-1 defeat by Purdue.
Beatrix Csordas leads the Blue Demons with a 4-0 record at No. 1 singles. Gergana Ganera has also seen time at No. 1 recording a 2-1 ledger and a 3-0 mark at No. 2 singles. In doubles, Dunja Antunovic and Csordas are 5-1 in the No. 1 doubles position, while Ganeva and Brenda Leung are 2-0 at No. 2 doubles.
Scouting Butler
Butler comes to Bloomington with an 0-5 mark. So far this season, the Bulldogs have faced Indiana State, Miami (Ohio), Louisville, Bowling Green and DePaul.
Tough Road Ahead
The 2006 Indiana women's tennis schedule is one of the toughest in the country. Along with a grueling Big Ten schedule, the Hoosiers are set to face a total of 13 nationally ranked opponents. In the month of January, IU faced then-No. 54 Western Michigan (W, 5-2) and then-No. 14 Duke (L, 6-1). February doesn't get any easier for Indiana as the Hoosiers will face No. 23 Wake Forest (2/18), No. 20 Tennessee (2/25) and No. 22 Notre Dame (2/28) all before conference play begins.
Hoosiers Among Nation's Elite
After opening the season ranked No. 32 in the opening two ITA polls, the Hoosiers moved up one slot to No. 31 in the Feb. 7th rankings. Senior captain Sarah Batty kicks off her final campaign as a Hoosier with a No. 98 ranking nationally. Junior Laura McGaffigan earned her first national ranking at the No. 100 slot and in doubles the pair is ranked No. 37.
Regionally in singles, Batty is ranked No. 12, sophomore Brianna Williams earned a No. 20 nod, McGaffigan is ranked No. 22, while freshman Alba Berdala picked up her first ranking of her career at No. 28. In doubles, Batty and McGaffigan are ranked No. 6 in the Midwest.
