Injured team struggles at home

In the Big Ten, it's difficult to win matches when your team is not healthy, especially when you open up against two of the top programs in the country. The Hoosiers (5-5, 0-2 Big Ten) learned that the hard way on Saturday and Sunday as they were defeated 5-2 by No. 33 Wisconsin and 7-0 to No. 11 Northwestern Wildcats here in Bloomington.\nEven though IU lost to the Badgers 5-2, coach Lin Loring was pleased with the team's effort in a match that was much closer than the score indicated.\n"I think we played with a lot of heart today and a lot of emotion," Loring said in a statement. "I am not sure we could have played any better. A lot of the kids that haven't been practicing during the week came in and played, and we were probably only two or three shots away from winning the match. \nTwo of the players Loring was referring to are seniors Karie Schlukebir and Jessica (J.J.) Levin, who did not participate in IU's loss to No. 30 Kentucky last Wednesday. Levin won her No. 6 singles match in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. \n"J.J. Levin did a great job with her singles (match)," Loring said. "She never really practices during the week and for her to go out and beat a girl that is a regular starter in the Big Ten that was a great win for her."\nSchlukebir, who has been battling re-emerging cancer, continued her successful spring with wins at both No. 5 singles 6-3, 6-3 in straight sets and No. 1 doubles 8-2 (along with junior Linda Tran) for IU. Loring explained that Schlukebir has excelled despite the fact that her matches are numbered.\n"Karie just played great today (Saturday)," Loring said. "She knows that each match could be her last one with us before she goes and gets treatment. She is just playing real inspired tennis."\nIU did not fare as well against the No. 11 Wildcats on Sunday. Northwestern won all six singles matches in straight sets and two of three doubles matches. Loring stated that IU couldn't compete with the overmatched Wildcats.\n"They are a much better team than we are, and we have to be 100 percent healthy and have everything go right for us to beat them," Loring said. "We keep trying to get better every match."\nOnly junior Martina Grimm and freshman Sarah Batty claimed a victory for IU on Sunday. The duo defeated Northwestern's Ruth Barnes and Andrea Yung 8-4, improving to 11-6 on the season and 6-4 during the spring. Despite the loss, Loring was glad to see Grimm and Batty come away with a victory.\n"The highlight of the day was definitely the nice win by our number two doubles team," Loring said. "It was a good win for them." \nThe road for IU doesn't get any easier this weekend. The Hoosiers take on No. 12 Tennessee in Knoxville this Saturday. The Lady Vols beat Wake Forest 5-0 and only lost to Northwestern 4-3. IU lost to Wake Forest 6-1.