No. 31 Hoosiers face undefeated Fighting Irish squad

Coming off an upset of No. 28 Tennessee last weekend, the IU women's tennis team faces a challenge on the road this afternoon in South Bend. The No. 31 Hoosiers will take on in-state rival and undefeated Notre Dame.\nThe No. 7 Fighting Irish are off to their best start in 20 years, winning their first nine matches of the season, including wins against No. 10 North Carolina and No. 13 Harvard.\n"We have to play awfully well (to win)," said IU coach Lin Loring. "I think if we get off to a good start, it will be a good match."\nGetting off to a good start means winning at doubles -- something the Hoosiers have done consistently this year. IU (9-2 overall) has swept doubles play nine times this season. The No. 1 doubles tandem of senior Sarah Batty and junior Laura McGaffigan has won 10 of 11 dual doubles matches this season. Out of 33 dual doubles matches, the Hoosiers have dropped only five.\nNotre Dame knows a thing or two about solid doubles as well. All three of the Fighting Irish's doubles teams are nationally ranked, including juniors Catrina and Christian Thompson. The twin sisters currently hold the No. 2 national ranking in doubles.\nThe Hoosiers might catch a break, however, as Catrina Thompson, ND's top player, has missed the last two matches because of injury.\nWhile the Hoosiers lead the all-time series against Notre Dame 11-9, the Fighting Irish have taken nine of the last 10 matches, including a 4-3 win last year.\nIn last season's close contest, IU's No. 3 singles player Brianna Williams lost a three-set match as a freshman. This season, Williams said she feels positive about the team's chances.\n"Knowing that last year was a close match and this year we've got nothing to lose, we're optimistic," Williams said.\nBatty will look for her second career win over a ranked opponent at No. 1 singles. The Chesterfield, England, native defeated DePaul's Gergana Ganeva, then-ranked No. 85 nationally, Feb. 12. The victory helped earn Batty Big Ten Athlete of the Week honors, the second time in her career she has earned such recognition.\nAt No. 2 singles, McGaffigan will go for her seventh singles victory of the season.\nIU is no stranger to being the visiting underdog though. The team played the role on four occasions last year. This year, the Hoosiers have already faced No. 23 Wake Forest on the road, a contest they lost 5-2.\n"We know they are a good team," McGaffigan said. "It would be a great win"