MacTaggart leads six Hoosiers to ITA Ohio Valley Regional

Last Time: The spring season saw IU finish with an impressive 23-8 record, despite bowing out to LSU in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Setup: The IU men’s tennis team returns to action this weekend for the first time since May, commencing its fall campaign as it travels to Knoxville, Tenn., for the ITA Ohio Valley Regional. The tournament, put on by the University of Tennessee, began Thursday and is scheduled to last until Monday, Oct. 24.

The Context: Junior Josh MacTaggart leads a field of six Hoosiers that will participate in the event.

MacTaggart, a native of England, is seeded third overall in the singles bracket. He will join forces with senior Stephen Vogl in doubles action to comprise a team seeded second overall; fellow Hoosiers Isade Juneau and Jeremy Langer will also form a team seeded third.

A third duo, senior Will Kendall and sophomore Dimitrijie Tasic, rounds out IU’s involvement in the doubles tournament.

All six Hoosiers are slated to appear in singles action, which will consist of two separate draws. Each of the 128 competitors who voyage to Knoxville will play an opening-round match in the main draw. Winners will advance to the second round of this draw, while the 64 losers will move to a consolation draw.

As a result, all competitors are guaranteed at least two singles matches, regardless of the outcome of the first.

The ITA Regional will represent IU team members’ first official mark on their records. Though results of fall tournaments do not count toward team records or Big Ten standings, wins and losses during the fall semester do count toward individuals’ singles and doubles record for the entire year.

Notable Number: 106. Toronto native Langer was rated 106th nationally in the Preseason Men’s Singles Rankings. He was the only Hoosier to make it to the list.