Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Begin Big Ten Play on Saturday
2/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 1, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana University men's tennis team begins Big Ten play on Saturday, traveling to Iowa City for a match with the Hawkeyes. The contest is scheduled to begin at noon central time.
Indiana leads the all-time series 45-15. The Hawkeyes and Hoosiers battled twice last season, with IU winning both matches. Indiana topped the Hawkeyes (6-1), on March 25, 2007, in Bloomington. The two faced off at the Big Ten Tournament as well. There, the Hoosiers defeated Iowa 4-3.
GREAT START
Indiana has rolled through their first four dual matches en route to a 4-0 start. The Hoosiers have dominated the competition by winning 35 of the 36 individual matches, dropping only a lone doubles contest. A group of six Hoosiers went 4-for-4 in their respective singles matches last week while three diffierent doubles combinations remain undefeated in the dual match season for the Cream and Crimson.
STIFF COMPETITION
Indiana's spring dual match schedule is loaded with nationally-prominent programs. The Big Ten alone has six teams ranked in the top-50, including No. 3 Ohio State, Illinois (#8), Michigan (#21), Wisconsin (#28), Penn State (#39) and Minnesota (#40).
The Hoosiers are also slated to take on a heavy dose in the non-conference schedule. Matches at Alabama (#12) and North Carolina State (#20) will force IU to go on the road and compete against a pair of top-25 squads. Kentucky and SMU also crack the top-50. Indiana is currently ranked No. 62 according to the ITA.
ON THE RADIO
Head Coach Randy Bloemendaal is a scheduled guest for the men's basketball half-time show on Sunday. The game begins at noon and can be heard on the IU Sports Radio Network and its affiliates.
