IU pressing on despite hard times

The news hasn't been good for the Hoosiers lately. \nIU struggled in back to back defeats against No. 4 Duke and Wake Forest last weekend, and they may have lost senior No. 1 singles and doubles player Karie Schlukebir for the season due to undisclosed circumstances. \nFreshman singles and doubles player Sophie Rychlik also cannot play in the tournament due to an injury, so the team is forced to forfeit one point in each of the three matches.\n"It's frustrating to not be able to play after all of the hard work I've put in," Rychlik said. "I'll try to do the best (to stay healthy) for the future."\nDespite their recent misfortunes, the Hoosiers look to get back on track this weekend at home with three matches. IU first takes on Marquette University, a team that has lost six matches in a row, at 10 a.m. on Saturday. \nJunior singles and doubles player Linda Tran, who moved up to No. 1 singles for Schlukebir, said Marquette is a team to keep an eye on.\n"We know we can't overlook Marquette," Tran said. "They have good singles players at the 1, 2 and 3 positions, and they also have the depth that we don't have right now due to our injuries."\nAt 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, the Hoosiers will likely face their toughest opponent of the weekend -- Ball State University. The Cardinals have been playing well this season and are off to a 4-0 start. IU has to be prepared for a good team like BSU, Tran said.\n"Mentally, we're just trying to put everything together and surprise Ball State," Tran said. "Physically, during the week we've been trying to take care of our injuries."\nFreshman Sarah Batty will get to see a familiar face this weekend. Her sister, Jenny Batty, plays for BSU. \nBatty said it's not a big deal playing against a family member.\n"We played BSU in the fall, and it's not really any different," Batty said. "It's just the same as any other match."\nThe Hoosiers finish play at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday against Indiana State University following the match with BSU The Sycamores have one win and two losses so far this year. The first two matches with Marquette and BSU should be more difficult for IU, Batty said.\n"We know Indiana State is probably the weakest team we face this weekend," Batty said. "We're basically concentrating on the first two matches, then ISU"