Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Cap Regular Season at Michigan and Michigan State
4/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 19, 2006
Michigan State and Michigan Weekly Notes
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The No. 40 Indiana women's tennis team concludes the regular season on the road against Michigan State and No. 34 Michigan. The Hoosiers will head to East Lansing, Mich., for a 10 a.m., showdown with the Spartans at the MSU Outdoor Tennis Courts on April 22. The following day, IU heads East to Ann Arbor, Mich., to take on the Wolverines. The match is slated for 11 a.m., at Michigan's Varsity Tennis Center. Indiana enters the weekend 16-6 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten. Michigan State enters the contest with a 13-8 ledger and a 3-5 mark in conference play, while UM is 12-6 on the year and 6-2 in league action with Penn State still to play before facing IU.
Indiana Remains Ranked
Indiana remains in the top 50 of the ITA/Fila tennis rankings. In the latest April 18 poll, the Hoosiers garnered the No. 40 slot. IU earned its highest ranking of the season at the No. 26 spot in the March 28 poll after besting three straight ranked teams.
The Michigan State Series
Indiana is a perfect 38-0 against the Spartans. Last season, IU claimed the 6-1 victory over Michigan State in Bloomington. Sarah Batty, Laura McGaffigan and Cecile Perton collected singles wins against MSU on April 24, 2005.
The Michigan Series
The Hoosiers are 29-8 all-time against the Wolverines. The last time the two Big Ten foes met was in the Big Ten Tournament on April 29 in which UM prevailed, 4-2. Just a weekend before meeting in the conference championship, the Hoosiers topped Michigan, 4-3, in Bloomington. After claiming the doubles point against the Wolverines in the conference tournament, IU's only other point in the match came from Laura McGaffigan in the No. 3 singles position.
All In The Family
Indiana freshman Stephanie Heller has family ties to the Michigan tennis program. Heller's older brother, Ryan, plays for the Wolverine men's team who will take on the Hoosiers in Bloomington this weekend.
Senior Salute
Indiana senior captain Sarah Batty played her final home matches as a Hoosier against Minnesota and Iowa (April 15-16). The Chesterfield, England product will cap her final regular season contests this weekend against Michigan State and Michigan. Batty, who is a four-year letterwinner, earned All-America and All-Big Ten honors while at Indiana.
Conference Contenders
Indiana has undoubtedly had one of the richest and most successful traditions in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers have claimed 16 conference titles with the most recent coming in 2004. Last season, IU notched an 8-3 record in conference play that was good enough for third place. So far in 2006, IU is 6-2 in league play.
Last Time Out
Indiana improved its record with a 7-0 win over Minnesota on April 15 at the Varsity Tennis Courts. The Hoosiers claimed the doubles point for the 17th time this season and swept the Gophers in all six singles contests. Despite a tremendous effort the following day against then-No. 37 Iowa, the Hoosiers fell to the Hawkeyes, 4-3, on April 16's Senior Day. After rain forced doubles indoors, the two Big Ten foes headed outside where IU came up just short of four singles wins needed for the victory.
What's Next?
Indiana heads to the Big Ten Tournament hosted by Illinois in Champaign, Ill. Play begins on April 27 with the championship match slated for April 30.
