First-round loss ends tourney early at Big Tens

The IU men's tennis team couldn't quite get the job done against No. 6 Michigan at the Big Ten Championships Thursday. The No. 11 Hoosiers lost 4-2 in Columbus, Ohio, at the Stickney Tennis Center. Senior Milan Rakvica won at the No. 1 position for IU, beating the Wolverines' Henry Beam 7-6(2), 6-4. Senior Rahman Smiley was the only other Hoosier to post a singles victory, winning 6-3, 6-4 over Anthony Jackson at the No. 4 position. \n"We had a chance to squeeze their guys, and we didn't squeeze them," coach Ken Hydinger said. "We were really close to taking the doubles point, and we battled back during the latter portion of the singles matches. It was close, but we didn't get it done."\nRakvica concluded his career with a record of 91-54 and finished fifth on IU's all-time singles wins list. Smiley finished his career with a mark of 69-50.\nTo begin the match, IU appeared to have a grasp on the doubles point, winning at No. 1 doubles. But the No. 2 and No. 3 teams lost. At No. 3, freshmen Reid Strand and Jakub Praibis were leading 6-1 but lost 9-8(8-6).\n"(Strand and Praibis) blew a 6-0 lead, and if we could have held serve we could have won the doubles point," Hydinger said. \nFormer Michigan player turned Hoosier, junior Zach Held, lost his match 6-3, 6-2 to the Wolverines' Matt Lockin at the No. 3 position. Praibis and freshmen Tom Bagnato and Ryan Recht lost their matches, too.\nNo. 6 Michigan will play No. 3 Minnesota today at 2 p.m. Top-seeded Illinois also plays today at 10 a.m.