IU men’s tennis did not let its fans down during its first weekend competing at home.
With the stands filled with people clad in cream and crimson gear at the IU Tennis Center, the Hoosiers put on a strong display and added three more wins to their undefeated record this season.
This past weekend IU beat Ball State, Eastern Illinois and Illinois-Chicago, 5-2, 7-0 and 7-0, respectively. The Hoosiers showed consistent singles play and were decisive in securing their doubles points in all of the matches to jump to a 5-0 record.
“I felt like we were very consistent these last three matches,” IU Coach Jeremy Wurtzman said. “Starting with Friday night, I felt like that was a challenge. They came with great tennis players.”
Friday’s match against Ball State, like Wurtzman predicted, was the toughest of the three.
Senior Raheel Manji came up short at No. 1 singles 7-5, 6-2, after being 5-2 up in the first set. His opponent, Lucas Andersen, had a powerful serve that Manji could not find a way around.
Freshman Bennett Crane won his third singles match in a row this season in straight sets and has become a common face in Wurtzman’s singles and doubles lineup.
Sophomore Oliver Sec said the underclassmen look up to their upperclassmen teammates, but added they also know their input to the team can be crucial when determining the outcome of a matchup.
“I think the upperclassmen are really dependent on us,” Sec said. “They really think that is huge. Obviously we look up to them as older guys, but we also feel the pressure on us to win.”
On Saturday IU swept its matchups and did not concede a single point to Eastern Illinois or Illinois-Chicago.
In the first matchup of the day freshman Payam Ahmadi had a successful collegiate singles debut by coming out on top at No. 6, 6-4, 6-2. Similarly freshman Zac Brodney won his match in straight sets at No. 4, 6-3, 7-5.
It was not only the pair of freshman who found their groove against Eastern Illinois but the entire Hoosier side as they all won their matches in two sets.
Against the Flames Manji redeemed himself from his Friday loss by defeating his opponent at position one in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.
Likewise, his teammates at the other positions won all their matches in straight sets, though junior Keivon Tabrizi at No. 2 struggled in the second set, went to a tiebreaker and came on top 6-1, 7-6 (3).
In all of their matches both Crane and senior Matthew McCoy were patient with keeping the ball in and finding winning shot opportunities, and when the opportunities came their way, both were effective finalizing points.
Up next for IU is Princeton next Saturday. The Hoosiers will seek to keep their undefeated record against an opponent that Wurtzman and his players have played before.
“We played Princeton the last two years, and we lost to them,” Wurtzman said. “We know their players. They are a very talented group. I think it is going to be a great match and we can not wait for it.”
