Men's tennis starts Big Ten Tourney

Last fall, the IU men’s soccer team did not perform up to preseason expectations but qualified for the NCAA Tournament by winning the Big Ten Tournament.

The IU men’s tennis team is trying to do the same this spring.

No. 67 IU begins this quest against No. 55 Minnesota on Thursday. IU lost 4-3 against Minnesota earlier this season in Bloomington.

IU Coach Randy Bloemendaal said prior experience against Minnesota will prove beneficial to his young team.

“I think it helps a lot,” Bloemendaal said. “I think in tennis visualization is important, and when you’ve seen the guy across the net and you know how he’s going to play, it makes a difference.”

There will be two main changes between this match and when the two teams last met in March.

This match will be played in East Lansing, Mich., rather than Bloomington. IU is 1-9 away from home, and was defeated by Michigan State in East Lansing last weekend.

“We learned a really hard lesson over the weekend,” Bloemendaal said. “I think it’s going to help us, no doubt about it. I think we’re going to be ready to go.”

In addition to the change of venue, IU will have sophomore Samuel Monette healthy and in the lineup. An elbow injury prevented Monette from helping IU try and stave off defeat against the Spartans in March.

Monette has split time at No. 1 and No. 2 singles this season, as well as No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.

Bloemendaal said the doubles point could be a critical part of the match, especially because of what Bloemendaal calls question marks in his singles lineup.

“We need to win the doubles point to set the tone,” Bloemendaal said. “Then we need to find three singles matches to win. The bottom of our lineup has been a huge question mark, then you throw (Sven) Lalic in there and you have three question marks before you start the match.”

Lalic, a junior, has lost all 10 of his Big Ten singles matches this season. Though his competition has been stiff — he plays at No. 1 and No. 2 singles — Bloemendaal said it is time for Lalic to step up.

“Lalic is more than good enough,” Bloemendaal said. “He should be All-Big Ten material. It’s not the physical third holding him back — the skill set is good enough.”

Bloemendaal said this weekend could be a fresh beginning not only for Lalic, but for the entire team.

“I look at this tournament as a reset,” Bloemendaal said. “Start from the postseason and try to write the story we wanted to write all along.”

All season Bloemendaal has said that story’s final chapter will be the NCAA Tournament.

In addition to the IU men’s soccer team, Bloemedaal said he has regaled his team with the tale of the 1983 North Carolina State basketball team.

The Hoosiers have seen the “30 for 30” documentary on the Wolfpack. Now, they will try to survive and advance in the Big Ten tournament.

“We’re going to hit reset, forget everything that’s happened and try to win this tournament,” Bloemendaal said.