Hoosiers split matches with ranked Big Ten foes

The IU men’s tennis team stands at 1-2 in the Big Ten after splitting a pair of matches this weekend. \nThe Hoosiers (11-7) fell to No. 23 Minnesota on Saturday 5-2, but they stormed back with a 6-1 win against Iowa on Sunday.\nIU had its hands full against Minnesota, an experienced team, in both the singles and doubles lineups. IU senior David Bubenicek and sophomore Peter Antons won 8-4 at No. 2 doubles, but the Hoosiers were unable to win at Nos. 1 and 3, giving the Golden Gophers the doubles point.\n“I thought the doubles point was big,” IU coach Ken Hydinger said. “I didn’t think we came out playing at the right tempo at one and three doubles.”\nDown 1-0, the Hoosiers brought the score to 1-1 with a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 4 by senior Arnaud Roussel. Sophomores Peter Antons and Mak Kendall fought hard at No. 5 and No. 6, but both fell. \nLeading 3-1, the Golden Gophers needed just one more victory to seal the match. They got that win at No. 2 when Raoul Schwark, No. 93 in the nation, took down IU senior Bubenicek 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. \nAt No. 3, junior Dara McLoughlin prevailed 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. After starting the season off 8-2, McLoughlin dropped four straight matches but is now back in the groove.\n“In singles I’m a little happier with how I’m playing,” McLoughlin said. “I was really disappointed with how it’s been going lately, and I’ve had three wins in a row.” \nAt No. 1, senior Thomas Richter had momentum after winning the first set, but he was unable to hold on, losing 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-3.\n“They got the job done on the road,” Hydinger said. “I’m disappointed that we didn’t win this.”\nOn Sunday, IU turned things around, taking the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 and giving the team much-needed momentum heading into singles.\nBubenicek was the first off the court with a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 2. At No. 4, Roussel earned his team-high 13th singles victory of the spring, winning 6-4, 6-2. At No. 5, Antons fell to 0-3 in Big Ten singles matches, losing 6-4, 6-4.\nA day after playing hard but coming up short, Kendall won the deciding match at No. 6, coming from behind to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.\n“I think that’s maybe the best I’ve seen him work here,” Hydinger said. “He was playing good defense, playing some offense, working it around (and he) minimized his unforced errors.\nWith the overall match decided, Richter’s opponent at No. 1 decided to call it quits, despite holding a 6-3, 1-6, 3-2 lead against him. At No. 2, McLoughlin pulled out yet another win, with a 6-2, 7-6 (6) score, ending the day well for IU. \n“The main thing is, (this win) gets us back to 1-2 in the Big Ten,” Hydinger said. “And we’ve got Michigan State here next week, and if we get that, we’re back to .500, and then (we’ll) jump from there.”