Hoosiers go 1-2 over weekend

The IU men’s tennis team (2-4) split its doubleheader Friday, losing to No. 35 North Carolina State 4-3 and defeating unranked Eastern Kentucky 7-0.

IU started well, taking the doubles point against NC State — the first time NC State has lost a doubles point all season.

“That’s a really good doubles team, and we looked good,” IU Coach Randy Bloemendaal said. “When we got the lead, we put it to them.”

The Hoosiers could not parlay this doubles victory into success in singles, as the Hoosiers won just one out of six first sets in singles.

“We were really average carrying leads,” Bloemendaal said. “Once you learn how to do that, that’s when you start winning a lot of matches.”

Sophomore Samuel Monette was one player for IU who consistently played well.
Monette won his No. 2 singles match in straight sets. The Hoosiers went on to lose four singles matches in a row after that, clinching a victory for the Wolfpack.

No. 1 doubles team senior Dimitrije Tasic and junior Sven Lalic were also successful during the match.

The upperclassmen duo had struggled in doubles all year before defeating one of the top doubles teams in the country.

Bloemendaal said he is hopeful this newfound success in doubles will translate to success in singles play, where both players have struggled.

Lalic came close to reversing his fortune during his match. Even though he lost in straight sets, it took two tightly contested tie-breaks for that to happen.

Bloemendaal blamed the scoring system for his junior’s loss.

“In tennis, most of the time you do need to think. And that scoring system rewards the guys who just bust balls, especially indoors,” Bloemendaal said. “I thought Sven was a little bit of a victim to that.”

He said the scoring system does not reward the better player, making it easier for the lesser player to win.

The later match saw a much different Hoosier team, one that did not drop a set to Eastern Kentucky.

“That EKU team is coming off a huge win against Xavier who won their conference,” Bloemendaal said. “We made them look like bottom of the barrel.”

The match also saw a lineup change for the Hoosiers with the addition of freshman Matthew McCoy.

Bloemendaal said he thinks very highly of the Bloomington native’s potential in the IU program.

“I think McCoy’s going to win a lot of matches,” Bloemendaal said. “I just have this sneaky suspicion that once he does what he needs to do and gets his teeth into this whole thing, that he’s going to win a lot of matches.”

Bloemendaal praised the freshman’s work ethic and willingness to improve.

“He’s a gritty player, he gets a lot of balls, very coachable,” Bloemendaal said. “From where he was this summer to where he’s at now, it’s like night and day. I think once he gets his feet under him, he’s going to be good.”

The Hoosiers then traveled to Norman, Okla., on Sunday where they lost 4-0 to the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners.

IU’s success in doubles did not translate on the road in Norman. The Hoosiers lost the first two doubles matches against the Sooners and were trailing in the third when play stopped.

Bloemendaal has emphasized all year how much the momentum of winning the doubles point affects the rest of the match. It proved decisive again Sunday.

It did not get better in singles play for the Hoosiers. IU lost each of its first three matches, clinching the match for Oklahoma. The remaining three matches were not continued.

The Hoosiers were trailing by a set in one, while the other two were in the midst of a third and deciding set.

Follow reporter Michael Hughes on Twitter @MichaelHughes94.