Hoosiers look to rebound after loss to Purdue at start of Big Ten season

After a two-week hiatus from match play, the No. 57 Hoosiers return to the hard court with fresh Floridian tans and an eager attitude to square off against Penn State and Ohio State this weekend.

This will be the first time the Hoosiers take the court in 14 days after taking their annual team spring break trip to the Sunshine State, where the vacation is not the generic spring break experience.

“I guess it’s not your average college spring break like what most people do,” freshman Katie Klyczek said. “We’re all together at the hotels, so it’s a glimpse of the typical break, but yeah, it’s fun.”

The women were able to relax from the grueling schedule and have a week filled with surf, sun and several hours of tennis.

“We train and practice almost every day for a few hours with the team,” Klyczek said. “And then, usually, we will go to lunch and for the rest of the day either go to the beach or go to the pool.”

Back in Bloomington and refocused for the stretch run against Big Ten play, the Hoosiers look to bounce back after they lost their previous match to arch-rival Purdue on March 9. This was a loss the team took in good stride, Klyczek said.

“Everyone took it pretty well because it was our first Big Ten match,” Klyczek said. “I don’t think it discouraged us at all, we’re that much more determined to do better in the Big Ten after having that loss.”

On Friday, the team will try and rebound when it travels to State College, Pa., to try and tame the No. 46 Nittany Lions.

After losing their first two matches of the season to nationally-ranked competition Hawaii and Baylor, Penn State has regrouped to win nine of its past 10 matches, boasting a record of 9-3.

Penn State features the No. 55 player in the nation, Petra Januskova, who is likely to play against junior Leslie Hureau in the one slot.

Sunday, the Hoosiers will finish the weekend by taking a bus ride to Columbus, Ohio, to try and crack the Buckeyes.

Ohio State comes limping into the match against the Hoosiers in the midst of a four-game losing streak.

By the time the two squads play Sunday, Ohio State’s skid could increase to five, as it faces off against formidable opponent No. 27 Purdue.

Overall, the Buckeyes are 5-9, the worst record in the Big Ten. The scarlet and gray are the only Big Ten squad to have a record under .500.

For the two weekend matches, the projected No. 1 doubles tandem for the Hoosiers is Klyczek and sophomore Sophie Garre.

Garre took over the spot as Klyczek’s partner from freshman Carolyn Chupa earlier this season. Even though Klyczek and Chupa are great friends, the change has not been taken personally by anyone.

“Everything is good, we do what is best for the team,” Klyczek said. “And what coach thinks is best is probably best anyway. Sophie’s great, Carolyn’s great, so we’re all good.”