The Hoosiers are back home this week to host Illinois State University on Friday after losing to Princeton University and Yale University last weekend. Indiana has performed well at home all season long, posting a 9-1 record at the IU Tennis Center.
After losing three straight matches, this Friday provides an ideal opportunity for Indiana to get back in the win column. The Hoosiers are currently 9-5 this season.
“We have to take care of business,” head coach Jeremy Wurtzman said ahead of the match. “(Illinois State is) going to be hungry to beat us.”
The Redbirds are 6-7 so far this season and 1-7 in matches not on their home court. Illinois State has played much better as of late, winning two of its last three matches.
“They’ve struggled on the road just like we have,” Wurtzman said. “We’re still going to have to play well to win.”
The Hoosiers and the Redbirds share two common opponents, Butler University and Western Michigan University.
Indiana swept Butler 4-0 back on Jan. 29 and took down Western Michigan 5-2 on Feb. 19.
The Redbirds did not fare as well against those two teams, losing both matches decidedly. A day before Indiana defeated Butler, the Bulldogs beat the Redbirds 4-1. Then, on Feb. 24, the Redbirds were dominated by Western Michigan 7-0.
“We can’t look at those things,” Wurtzman said. “We have to play the team that is in front of us and focus on Illinois State.”
The match against Illinois State is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. The Hoosiers play one other match before conference play kicks off March 25 in West Lafayette against Purdue University.
