It has not been an easy task for IU men’s tennis to get a win since it defeated Louisville at home Feb. 8.
After coming up short against two top-20 opponents last weekend, the Hoosiers were not able to bounce back and clinch victories against unranked, yet strong, opposition at home and on the road.
On Friday, IU lost to Memphis 4-1 at the IU Tennis Center, and on Sunday, Notre Dame swept IU 7-0 at the Eck Tennis Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana. The Hoosiers are now 7-4 on the season and have lost their last four matchups.
“I think we competed, but came up with some tough competition that really took it to us,” IU Coach Jeremy Wurtzman said. “I think that both teams played very aggressive and really played big points better than we did.”
On Friday night spirits were high at the IU Tennis Center. The Crimson Guard filled stands during doubles play as members chanted and screamed players’ names.
Players smiled as they saw their fans giving them support. Even one umpire in charge took a moment to warn them because of their loudness and intensity from outside the courts.
However, the Tigers knew how to handle the center’s pressure. With strong doubles team-ups, the Tigers came out on top at two and three positions in doubles play.
At position one doubles, IU juniors Raheel Manji and Keivon Tabrizi won 6-4. Sophomore Antonio Cembellin was the only Hoosier who won his singles match. He edged out his opponent in two sets 6-4, 6-4.
Tabrizi, sophomore Oliver Sec and freshman Zac Brodney dropped their matchups at No. 2, No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, in consecutive sets. Their defeats gave Memphis the points needed to clinch the win.
After the Tigers secured their fourth point, they decided to not finish the still-going three-set matches at positions one and four.
On Sunday, the Hoosiers did not win the doubles point either after losing at positions one and three. IU was up 5-4 at No. 2 but that match went unfinished, as Notre Dame
“I think the doubles could have gone either way,” Wurtzman said. “And the singles, I just felt they capitalized some of the pressure points, and we did not come through in those situations.”
In singles, IU did not win any matches, but both Manji and senior Matthew McCoy went down in a three-set battle. McCoy won his first set, and Manji won the second set of his matchup.
This is the first time during the season IU went down 7-0.
Up next, Wurtzman said the Hoosiers will be taking a couple days off to regroup and be ready to go on the road to face Washington in Seattle next Sunday.
“We are used to long trips,” Wurtzman said. “We took a long trip to Dartmouth as well and we did well there. We are excited to head west and play there.”
