IU faces toughest test of season

This weekend has the potential to be a very memorable one for the IU women’s tennis team. \nThe No. 34 Hoosiers (15-3, 5-0) will host a pair of matches this Easter weekend against two top-ranked teams. On Saturday, play will begin at 10 a.m. against the No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. On Sunday, a match against Big Ten leader No. 11 Northwestern will begin Sunday at the same time. Both matches will be at the IU Varsity Tennis Center.\nAs long as the Hoosiers don’t stumble against lower-ranked opponents later this season, IU coach Lin Loring said, his team will definitely receive an NCAA tournament berth. But a win against either team would guarantee a postseason spot regardless of what happens later, Loring said. \n“There’s just two great opportunities to help our ranking and get in the tournament with really nothing to lose,” he said. \nLoring’s squad has nothing to lose because despite its national ranking, the team is a significant underdog in both this weekend’s matches. \nThough sophomore Alba Berdala held the No. 86 spot in the national singles rankings for much of the season, there are now no ranked Hoosiers in singles or doubles. \nThat’s not the case for IU’s opponents this weekend. The Wildcats boast players ranked Nos. 11, 29 and 113 in singles, plus a pair of ranked doubles teams. \nThe Irish are led by twins Catrina and Christian Thompson. Catrina is ranked No. 26 individually, and the duo holds the No. 8 ranking in doubles. \n“They’re great athletes,” Loring said. “We have to just try and throw a bunch of balls back at them and hope they’re a little bit off. ... They’re definitely beatable; they have off days.” \nLoring said that off days will be necessary in both matches for the Hoosiers to have a significant chance to win, but Notre Dame coach Jay Louderback knows he can’t overlook IU. \n“Lin does a good job with them,” he said. “Even though we’re ranked really high, they’ll be ready.” \nThough Louderback said his team is better outdoors, Loring said having weather force the match indoors hurts his team’s chances. “Sun and wind is a great equalizer,” he said. “It’s definitely not to our advantage playing inside.” \nSenior co-captains Laura McGaffiagan and Cecile Perton said that, by Loring’s orders, the Hoosiers are going to remain loose this weekend in both matches.\nBut Loring said he still expects high intensity from his players. \n“We’re going to play with controlled, reckless abandon,” Loring said.