Hoosiers split matches against Michigan teams

IU split matches against Michigan schools this weekend, beating Michigan State 6-1 and losing in a heartbreaker to No. 14 Michigan, 4-3.

Action started Saturday when Michigan State came to Bloomington to duel with IU.

The doubles tandem of sophomore Sophie Garre and freshman Katie Klyczek opened up play with a 8-4 win. Then, just seconds later, senior Evgeniya Vertesheva and sophomore Kayla Fujimoto also won 8-4 to capture the doubles point.

Freshmen Alecia Kauss and Shannon Murdy won their match 8-3 to secure the doubles sweep.

For the doubles matches, the temperature was hovering at about 50 degrees, creating brisk playing conditions, which IU Coach Lin Loring said slowed down the game.

“You have to be a little more patient outdoors,” Loring said. “We are going to play in a lot colder and worse weather than that, so you just have to be willing to hit more balls.”

In singles, Vertesheva made quick work of her match by drubbing her opponent 6-0, 6-0. Hureau shortly followed suit, capturing the victory 6-1, 6-3.
Kauss secured the fourth team point and the Hoosiers’ third consecutive Big Ten win by downing her opponent 6-3, 6-2.

Freshman Carolyn Chupa gave up just three games by rolling against her foe 6-2, 6-1. In the lone loss of the day for IU, Fujimoto fell in a third set tiebreaker 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (10-8).

Klyczek capped off the Hoosiers’ dominant performance by taking the deciding second set en route to her 6-4, 7-5 victory.

For the duration of the match, Klyczek’s opponent served underhand due to a shoulder surgery the Spartan had had, Loring said. The odd style had to take some getting used to, but ultimately, Klyczek prevailed.

“It was difficult because she was a lefty hitting it, too,” Klyczek said. “And you have to be careful not to over-hit it because it is really easy to. It took a little bit to get used to.”

The Hoosiers attempted to extend their winning streak when they played Big Ten leader Michigan, but the maize and blue took the nail biter 4-3.

The Wolverines captured the doubles point by taking two of the three matches. Garre and Klyczek lost in the one slot 8-1. Vertesheva and Fujimoto then fell in the two slot 8-4.

Hureau and Murdy were up in their match 6-5 when the match was called early because the doubles point was already determined.

The singles action was tightly contested throughout the day. At one point in the first set, all six Hoosiers led their respective matches.

Chupa fell to No. 114 Mimi Nguyen 6-2, 6-2. After losing a closely contested first set in which she had multiple set points, Klyczek fell 7-5 and then lost the second set 6-2. Fujimoto fell in a three set battle 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 to secure the win for Michigan.

Vertesheva defeated No. 65 Brooke Bolender 7-5, 6-2. The victory was another notch in the win column for Vertesheva after she went through a slump in the middle of the season.

“Geniya is finally back,” Loring said. “She’s had three great matches in a row now.”

The Hoosiers added another win against ranked competition when Kauss took down No. 121 Sam Critser in straight sets 7-6, 6-1.

No. 99 Hureau extended her singles winning streak to seven by prevailing in an upset against No. 10 Emina Bektas. Hureau took the match in three sets 6-2, 4-6, 6-1.

“We put ourselves in position to win and just couldn’t close the deal,” Loring said. “We were there. We were right on the verge of beating them, and that’s what makes it so disappointing.”

Loring said he is optimistic about the team’s chances as IU starts the home stretch of Big Ten play.

“I just told them after the match I want them to bring this level of play the rest of the year,” Loring said. “We have four more nationally ranked opponents ahead of us, and if we bring this same level, we’re going to knock a couple of those teams off.”