IU takes on No. 17 Duke, Butler on Sunday

Experience will be IU’s ally this Sunday as they take on No. 17 Duke and Butler.\nAfter last Sunday’s difficult matches against Western Michigan and Miami (Ohio), the Hoosiers face another hurdle as they take on the Bulldogs and the Blue Devils this weekend.\nIU’s schedule works in its favor as Duke has yet to play in the spring season, save a lone invitational. \nJunior Sigrid Fischer said the team hopes to capitalize on the Blue Devils inexperience. \n“They’re going to play the first match against us so we might catch them on the wrong foot,” Fischer said. “They might not be ready to play yet, and we’ve played a doubles tournament and two dual matches this (past) weekend, so we are in better shape than they are.”\nWith an invitational and two matches behind them, the Hoosiers’ confidence is high heading into Sunday’s matches.\n“Obviously they are a good team, but I think we have a good shot and a good chance to beat them,” Fischer said.\nIU coach Lin Loring agreed with Fischer, and said the team is ready to compete against Duke.\n“We definitely needed to play some matches before we play someone with the caliber of Duke,” Loring said. “This is going to be the one of the best teams we’ll play this season.”\nLast weekend’s victories marked a milestone for Loring as he celebrated his 700th win, the most in NCAA women’s tennis history. The Hoosiers’ 6-1 wins over Western Michigan and Miami (Ohio) have given them extra practice for their next opponents.\nWhile freshman Charlotte Martin acknowledged that this weekend will provide challenges for the Hoosiers, last weekend’s matches have given them a building block for the rest of the season, she said.\n“We did well this weekend, but there’s a lot we’ve got to improve on,” Martin said. “It was good because now we know exactly what we need to work over this week and over the season. Everyone has got a lot of matches in so everyone’s feeling better prepared. We know our goals, the things we need to work on.“ \nSenior captain Brianna Williams summed up the team’s thoughts on the weekend match.\n“I think since we have home court advantage, that’s definitely going to help,” Williams said. “We have nothing to lose so I think we’ll go out (with confidence). Duke has something to lose so they’ll come out a little more nervous. Hopefully we’ll just play our game and hopefully win.”\nA possible win against Duke could help the team get into the NCAA Championships in May.\n“If we play well we can \ndefinitely win,” Loring said. “We need wins like this to get into the NCAA tournament so we have to take advantage of this game.”\nIU beat Butler 7-0 last year, but lost to Duke 6-1.\nThe Hoosiers will play Duke at 11 a.m. and Butler at 4 p.m. Both matches will be held at the IU Tennis Center.