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(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Defense plagued the football team last fall, keeping it from achieving a winning record. Sunday in Assembly Hall, it hurt them again as Players Inc. claimed the Recreational Sports Division I men's basketball championship with a 59-48 victory against the Football Playaz.\nPlayers Inc. blitzed to an 11-0 lead in the opening minutes of the game behind by two three-pointers from junior Andy Horne. Players Inc. continued its offensive onslaught, stretching the lead to 20-7 midway through the first half before cooling off to finish the half with a 33-24 lead. \nEight minutes into the second half, the Football Playaz began their run with a 14-6 spurt fueled by two three-pointers from junior Levron Williams and two more from junior Herman Fowler. \nAfter a 10-point second-half lead dwindled to just two points, Players Inc. got back on track, connecting on their next two trips down the floor to take a 53-46 lead with two minutes remaining in the game. Free throws down the stretch enabled Players Inc. to nail down the championship. \nSophomore Chad Stone scored a game high 20 points for Players Inc. while Horne added 19. Junior Chad Graves chipped in with 10. \n"These guys played well," Players Inc. coach Rahman Smiley, a junior, said. "There are a lot of good players on this team with a lot of experience. I think (the Football Playaz) thought it would be an easy game for them to win, but our guys came out and shot really well, which was not unexpected."\nFootball Playaz, a team made up of nine current and former IU football players, was in its second year of competition with nearly the same team. The Football Playaz lost in their first game of the final four last season.\n"We basically had the same team as last year with a few new faces," senior Brandon Rodgers said. \nNearly all of the members of the Football Playaz participated on their high school teams, but the experience wasn't enough.\n"(The Players Inc.) get the credit," junior A.C. Myler said. "We just got out-hustled"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
The No. 39 men's tennis team will travel to No. 46 Wisconsin Saturday on a business trip of sorts.\n"We are going up there to take care of business and do anything we have to do to get the win," coach Ken Hydinger said. "We have no option of not winning. I surely don't want to see us waste away (last weekend's) Northwestern win."\nThe Hoosiers (10-5, 2-3 Big Ten) are looking to even their Big Ten record after their most recent victory against Northwestern. While the Hoosiers have had the Badgers' number the past two years, including a 6-1 victory in Madison last year, IU is not planning to get by on history alone. \n"(Wisconsin) recently beat Minnesota 5-2, a team which we lost to earlier in the season," Senior Ian Arons said. "It is a Big Ten match, so it is going to be tough"\nWisconsin (10-6, 2-2) enters the match coming off of a 4-3 loss to No. 55 Michigan. \nIndividually for IU, senior Milan Rakvica will be looking to extend his winning streak. Last weekend, Rakvica beat the nation's 20th-ranked singles player, Graydon Oliver of Illinois, and followed that with a win against Brad Erikson of Northwestern. After his performance last weekend, Rakvica was named Co-Big Ten Player of the Week. \nOn the other end of the spectrum, senior Paul Jacobson will be looking to break out of his midseason slump. Jacobson started the spring season hot and carries a 16-13 record. But he has been cooled lately and will be searching for his first Big Ten victory.\n"I've got to keep my first serve in a high percentage of the time," Jacobson said. "I just really have to grind out the match and stay positive."\nOutside of the mental aspects, weather might play a role in the match. Depending on temperatures, the match will be held indoors or outdoors. \nDespite the possibility of an indoor match, the Hoosiers said they are focused on a win.\n"This is one of the better teams Wisconsin has had in awhile, and they are capable of anything," Hydinger said. "We just need to get the job done"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
The final row in the 2001 women's Little 500 is no different than the final rows in the men's race; most of the teams in the back of the pack lack experience. This row is no different. The final qualifier lost a team member two days before qualifications, and another squad hasn't raced since 1997.\nNo. 28 Teter 3:40.00\nWith rookie week underway, the Teter team was not sure whether it would be able to produce a team for this year's Little 500. But with two mid-week additions, the team was completed: all freshmen, all rookies.\nWith no experience and no coach, freshmen Amanda Elmore, Felicia Hernandez and Alison Kotek and sophomore Bri Kovac have been forced to put their skills together more or less on their own.\n"With two of us joining in the middle of rookie week, we missed some of the clinics that the other teams had," Elmore said. "We've had to do our best to pick up the exchanges and pack riding together."\nDespite its lack of experience, the team said it feels good about its abilities.\n"All of us are pretty good athletes and we work well together," Elmore said. \nAfter having difficulties in their first two attempts at qualifying, the girls slowed down to be sure to qualify. Disappointed by their placing, the team is looking forward to the race experience.\n"We are just happy to be out there," Kotek said. "We felt we could have done better in qualifications. But our goals are just to get out there and do our best with our exchanges and pack riding."\nNo. 29 Alpha Epsilon Phi 3:58.15\nSenior Sandi Shulman, sophomore Stacey Decter and freshmen Cathy Feldman and Marisa Kravitz are all rookies and had one focus for this race: having the name of their sorority on the team list.\nThey did that, for the first time since 1997.\n"We are looking at this year as a transition year where our sorority can finish having gained experience that will help our house come back with a stronger team next year," Shulman said. "We are excited that all the girls in the house, especially the seniors, are getting an opportunity to experience Little 500 with a team before they graduate."\nAssembled in mid-January, the team did not begin to train until a few days before rookie week. But the riders came a long way before entering qualifications.\n"We were definitely nervous about the track conditions, since it seemed as if many of the experienced riders were having trouble," Shulman said. \nThe team suffered a fall in its first attempt and slowed things down for its second to avoid injuries. With its time of 3:58.15, the squad qualified in the next-to-last position, but said starting position is no concern.\n"We are not as concerned with where we qualify or how we perform in the different Little 500 events as we are with just participating in general and getting our sorority involved," Shulman said.\nNo. 30 Sigma Delta Tau 4:57.50\nBetween changing riders, changing coaches and losing one appendix, the Sigma Delta Tau Little 500 team has battled through many complications to take the field this year. \nJuniors Katy Abramson and Megan Herman, sophomore Amy Hoffman and freshman Laurel Wood compose the final roster for the team. Earlier this year, the sorority's hopes for a team in this year's field looked dim. Just a month and a half ago, Herman underwent an appendectomy, jeopardizing her ability to ride. With Herman in question, two teammates quit. But Herman, with one year of Little 500 experience under her belt, pushed her recovery and the team recruited two riders to complete the team. \nHerman returned to training just two days before qualifications, where the team, under the guidance of its coach, simply made sure to qualify. Taking their time, Sigma Delta Tau finished in the No. 30 spot, leaving its riders less than excited.\n"We played it way too cautiously," Herman said. "But we are going in with the mind-set that we can't do any worse."\nWith a new coach and a competitive mind-set, Sigma Delta Tau is hoping its ability to overcome will help improve upon its qualifications. \n"We've stuck through a lot of complications and shown determination," Herman said. "We're shooting to stay with the lead pack and hoping to finish 23rd or higher, and we believe we can do it"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
When the graduates are announced Saturday, men's tennis seniors Paul Jacobson, Milan Rakvica, and Ian Arons will all give their final farewell to Indiana University and a coach that has taught them life skills. \nThis years men's tennis team ended the year at 14-8 overall, barring an invite to the NCAA Championships, and wrapped up Big Ten play 6-6. The team finished behind what they set out for and far from their goals. \n"I know they would have liked to have finished higher in conference play but I just feel fortunate to have worked with them," Hydinger said. "I am appreciative of all the efforts they have put forth and the willingness to work they have displayed."\nThe trio road a wave that started in their first year as the team finished 9-18, eighth in the Big Ten and road it to its crest last year which saw the Hoosiers finish 17-7 and third in the Big Ten. \nThe group found the most individual success their sophomore year. Arons jumped into the number one spot in only his second year. Arons claimed All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten honors for his second year performance. Rakvica wasted no time working into the program as he earned the No. 4 position where he grabbed a team high 30 wins. At one point in the season Rakvica compiled 17 consecutive wins. Jacobson, playing at the five spot, was not far behind, finishing the year second on the team with 27 wins. The team finished the year 14-10 and fifth in the Big Ten. \nIn their junior year the trio witnessed its most success as a team. Rakvica finished the season 25-17 and received All-Big Ten honors. Arons came back strong for the Hoosiers as well, proving key for the team winning matches against two Top 20 teams. Piling up more victories, Jacobson led the team with a 27-12 mark. The team wrapped up the season 17-7 with a third place finish in the Big Ten. \nIn their final year, IU entered the season with high hopes with a talented and rather experienced lineup. Jacobson's season reached its peak as he advanced to the sweet sixteen round of the All-American Championships. It also fell to the opposite end of the spectrum as he slumped through conference play to finish the season 18-17. Rakvica struggled early but finished strong and was named to the All-Big Ten Team. Arons started strong with a big win over Notre Dame before falling into a bit of a slump, but finished with an 8-3 mark in conference play.\nEach one has found their way into the IU record books. Rakvica's 30 wins in a season makes him one of five to ever accomplish the feat. Jacobson registers sixth in career win with 86 and Arons closes out his career at seventh with 78 wins. \nThe group feels that they have learned about competition as well as compassion from Hydinger.\n"Coach is a competitive guy," Arons said. "Every match he goes out there wanting to win. But that isn't just in tennis, he really cares about how the team does on and off of the court."\nBut to those within the program they will be remembered for much more then their wins and losses. \n"These guys have been great for the team as well as the organization and no one could have asked for more," Hydinger said.
(04/26/01 5:13am)
Senior Paul Jacobson entered the spring season with many goals in mind, one being to finish as one of the top five all-time winningest men's tennis players in IU history. \nThat goal seems to have consumed him.\nHaving won 27 matches during each of the past two seasons, Jacobson entered 2001 with a total of 68 victories, 20 behind former Hoosier David Russell, who holds fifth place on the all-time list. Jacobson started hot this spring, dominating play and quickly climbing toward his goal. \nThen, chaos hit.\nStanding at 16-8 in match play, Jacobson began what turned into a nine-match losing streak. \n"I began to put too much pressure on myself and focus too much on tennis," Jacobson said. "I care about my tennis so much that I started to think only about that and did not let myself think about things outside of tennis."\nWith his slump not showing any signs of a break, coach Ken Hydinger moved Jacobson from the No. 3 singles spot to No. 4. In his first match at the No. 4 position, Jacobson was able to break his slump with a victory against Penn State's Steven Van der Westhuyzen. \nThe victory pushed Jacobson's career record to 85 wins, three shy of Russell's total. Jacobson will be in need of a tournament run -- from himself and his teammates -- at this week's Big Ten Championships if he is to eclipse Russell's mark. \nRegardless of whether he finishes in the top five in career victories, Jacobson will leave his mark on the IU men's tennis program. \nLast season, Jacobson was named to the All-Big Ten Academic team, and last fall, he was able to reach the sweet 16 round of the All-America Championships, a contest which drew 256 competitors. These are just a few of the many accomplishments highlighting Jacobson's career. \n"Paul has won an awful lot of matches for us," Hydinger said. "He made a personal commitment to himself and to his team, and he has been a great player here for four years. I've really enjoyed Paul, and I really respect him as an individual and as a tennis player."\nHis teammates have also felt the effects of Jacobson's commitment.\n"He is a great teammate and a great leader," junior Rahman Smiley said. "I have looked up to him since we were younger, and he sets a great example of hard work and discipline for those who follow him."\nWith his college career almost over, Jacobson is not planning to leave tennis behind. In December, he qualified as a member of the U.S. team for the Maccabi Games in Israel this summer. The games are better known as the Jewish Olympics. \n"Playing in the Maccabi Games was a big goal of mine," Jacobson said. "The opportunity to play in world games and get that experience is something I have been working for."\nJacobson also plans to travel to France for nine weeks to work on training for a professional tennis career -- Jacobson's largest goal. Hydinger said reaching that goal isn't out of reach.\n"Paul is a student of the game and an extremely hard worker," Hydinger said. "He has accepted many challenges, and he always gives it all he has. He has a tremendous opportunity to exceed at a higher level"
(04/26/01 5:12am)
This year's men's tennis Big Ten championships has a clear favorite, an underdog, and a very fine line between the two.\n"The tournament is really wide open this year," Senior Ian Arons said. "Illinois and Ohio State are the obvious favorites, but each match will be tough. Everyone is going to be out there working hard for the same thing, and they will be fighting for it."\nIllinois enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed and the clear favorite. After wrapping up its fifth consecutive Big Ten title and finishing with a 10-0 conference record this season, Illinois might seem untouchable. \nHighlighting its undefeated conference season was a win against IU that gave it the longest winning streak in Big Ten play, 55 consecutive conference wins. Despite all of the peak moments during Big Ten play, the Fighting Illini did struggle before in conference play. With a young team, the Illini opened the spring season 6-4 and watched themselves drop from the top 10 to as low as No. 17. Since then, Illinois has won 12 consecutive matches and moved back to the No. 10 spot in the most recent polls. But the inexperience that plagued them early in the season might be a concern for tournament play.\nClose behind Illinois is Ohio State, which finished the Big Ten season with an 8-2 record, with losses coming at the hands of Illinois and Michigan. A second-place finish in the conference wrapped up what has been a record season for the Buckeyes as they finished overall play at 21-3. It was one of the school's best showings since the early 1940s. \nDespite their record, the Buckeyes have climbed no higher than No. 25 in the rankings because of a pre-conference schedule with questionable strength. \nFinishing in a three-way tie for third were Northwestern, Minnesota and Michigan. Standing at 6-4 in conference play, the three teams will join Illinois and Ohio State with first round byes in the tournament. \nNorthwestern holds the No. 3 seed and rolls into the championships having won four of its last five matches. The Wildcats have been encouraged by the play of their doubles teams, which have been crucial. \nMinnesota enters the tournament as the No. 4 seed, looking to bounce back from a late season when it lost four of its final six matches. The Gophers have suffered from injuries throughout the season, but a healthy lineup is set for the championships. The team finished second in last year's tournament and have finished in the top five for 23 consecutive years. Sophomore and former Big Ten Freshman of the Year Harsh Mankad will lead the Gophers into battle. \nMichigan is perhaps the hottest team in the Big Ten with the exception of Illinois. Having won six of its last seven conference matches, the No. 5 seeded Wolverines make a good case for a dark horse. Minnesota will be the Wolverines' first obstacle in the quarterfinals.\nEntering the tournament with the No. 6, 7 and 8 seeds are Purdue, Wisconsin and IU, respectively. All three finished conference play at 5-5. \nRounding out the field for the tournament are No. 9 seed Iowa, No. 10 seed Michigan State and No. 11 seed Penn State. Iowa claimed three conference victories this year but could have been 6-4, as it dropped three final set matches. Michigan State and Penn State enter the tournament in the cellar, with the Spartan's lone conference win against the Nittany Lions the only one between the two teams.\nIU will open the tournament facing the Hawkeyes in the first round of the conference play 10 a.m. Thursday. The Hoosiers edged out the Hawkeyes earlier with a 4-3 win and are looking to do the same in today's opening round. \n"Iowa was a tough match for us earlier, and it will be a battle this time too," coach Ken Hydinger said. "There are better draws to be had, but this is a tournament. You have to win everything to come out on top, and that's the bottom line."\nThe Hoosiers will face tough obstacles. The winner of the first round matchup will face conference champion Illinois in the quarterfinals. \n"It won't be an easy road, but our goal is to win a championship," senior Paul Jacobson said. "There are a lot of tough teams in the field, but we feel that we have the ability to beat them, and that is the mind-set we will carry into each match"
(04/26/01 5:10am)
Entering the Big Ten Championships today in Madison, Wis., the box scores depict an IU men's tennis team whose play has been mediocre in recent weeks. But a look at individual performance reveals a team gaining confidence. \nPerhaps the most prominent late-season improvement comes from senior Milan Rakvica. Playing at the No. 1 singles position, Rakvica has claimed victory against five of his last seven opponents. He was named Big Ten Co-Athlete of the Week in early April after upsetting No. 20 Graydon Oliver of Illinois in consecutive sets and knocking off Brad Erikson of Northwestern. Rakvica followed with another win against No. 54 Phillip Metz of Ohio State. \n"Milan has been playing extremely well," Coach Ken Hydinger said. "He really has not played a bad match all season, and I like the way he has played. He is definitely better outdoors, and that has shown recently with his match play. He is playing with great consistency and control, and that wins matches."\nAlso streaking to the finish is senior Ian Arons. Playing in the No. 2 spot for the Hoosiers, Arons has built a 7-3 conference record. After opening the Big Ten season 2-2, Arons has won five of his last six matches to compile the second-best conference record on the team. \n"Ian competes so well when the pressure is on," Hydinger said. "He loves it when the burner is on high, and he fights so hard. The matches he has lost this season could all easily have been turned around."\nFinishing with the best conference record for the Hoosiers is junior Rahman Smiley. Smiley played most of the season at the No. 4 position, but recently moved to the No. 3 spot to replace senior Paul Jacobson, who struggled in Big Ten play. But the move does not seem to have fazed Smiley, who continues to win. Holding an 8-2 conference record, Smiley has been key in many of IU's conference victories. \n"I feel like I am finally starting to play my game," Smiley said. "I've been able to cut down on my backcourt errors and improve on my net position. My serve has more dimensions to it now, and that is a big help against the stronger returners."\nJunior Zach Held has improved, despite missing out on last weekend's road trip to Michigan. Held has been strong for IU at the No. 5 spot all season, and showed poise in his last two conference wins. \n"Zach has got an enthusiasm for the game," Hydinger said. "He is a competitor, and he is one of those guys that leaves the match having left it all on the court. He's a really gutsy kid."\nThe youth of the team, freshman Bernard Tsepelman, doesn't bring the best record into the tournament, but rarely has problems because of his inexperience. Early in the season, Tsepelman proved his ability to compete in pressure positions, clinching a road victory against Iowa. Although he does not have as much college experience as his teammates, Tsepelman said he is ready for tournament play. \n"I'm just getting pumped up and ready to play tennis," Tsepelman said. "I'm going in with the mindset that this is just another tournament. All I can do is play my game, and hopefully that will make things fall into place"
(04/20/01 5:11am)
This weekend will feature fire and ice for the men's tennis team.\nThe Hoosiers will head north to close out the regular season as they take on a hot Michigan club and a frostbitten Michigan State crew. IU, coming off of a split weekend with a loss to Ohio State and a win against Penn State, will enter the match at 12-6 with hopes of boosting its Big Ten record to 6-4 heading into next weekend's Big Ten Championships. \nSaturday, the Hoosiers will enter Ann Arbor, Mich., to try and take down a streaking-Michigan club which has won four of its last five conference matches including a big win against No. 24 Ohio Sate two weeks ago. \n"Michigan is going to be tough," junior Rahman Smiley said. "They are strong and really solid all the way down the lineup. They have had some quality wins against good teams like Ohio State, which shows their ability." \nLast year, the Hoosiers upended Michigan 5-2, but have not had great success against the Wolverines in the past. Michigan, a once dominant force in Big Ten tennis, has won seven of the last nine matches with the Hoosiers and holds a 48-12-1 cumulative record against IU. \nIU will then travel across the state to Lansing, where it will do battle with a young and depleted Michigan State team. After opening the season 5-1, the Spartans hit the wall, losing 14 of their last 16 matches, standing with one lone win in Big Ten play. \n"Michigan State is a struggling program right now," Smiley said. "They have a lot of freshmen and sophomores playing and lack the experience that a lot of Big Ten teams have. But it will still be a fight because it is our last match and it will be theirs, too. They'll be hungry for a win."\nInexperience might play a part in the Spartans' woes this season. With a roster composed of six freshmen, five sophomores and one junior, Michigan State's leadership is young. But coach Ken Hydinger said the record does not always tell the whole truth.\n"You are talking about a Big Ten team," Hydinger said. "All Big Ten matches are tough and most of them are close. This is a 4-3 (match score) league. If the final isn't 4-3 then it is 5-2 with four three-setters."\nIU will enter the match looking to move up in the Big Ten standings for better seeding in the Big Ten Championships which will take place next weekend. The Hoosiers stand tied for fifth in the conference at 4-4. Two wins this weekend would likely move them into the top four heading into the tournament, a place where the Hoosiers said they would like to be. \nWith the Wolverines and Spartans standing in their way, the Hoosiers said they can accomplish the feat.\n"Both of these matches are matches we should win," senior Paul Jacobson said. "We are going to have to work for them, but there is no reason we shouldn't win"
(04/18/01 5:20am)
New York, New Jersey and Bloomington. \nAt first glance, the only comparison that can be drawn is rough traffic conditions. But a closer look shows four members of the men's tennis team, all natives of the New York-New Jersey area. \nBut why this jump from the hustle and bustle of their home states to the gentle, rolling hills of south-central Indiana? \nIt's a trend that started four years ago as the first two of the foursome made their moves. Senior Paul Jacobson, of Leonia, N.J., and senior Ian Arons, of Dix Hills, N.Y., both chose to attend IU on academic and athletic grounds. \n"I wanted to go to a place where athletics were important and everyone cared about sports," Arons said. "(IU) provided the athletic environment that I was looking for, and it has a lot of very good schools as well."\nFollowing in the footsteps of his childhood tennis opponents, junior Rahman Smiley made the move from Union, N.J. Smiley found a sense of security and ease with the IU program because of a rich history with his Hoosier teammates. Smiley and Jacobson were members of the New Jersey All-State team during Smiley's junior year, and Arons competed with Smiley in tournament play throughout his career in the New England area.\n"Ian and Paul had a large influence on my decision to come to IU," Smiley said. "They really made me feel comfortable here. Those are two guys that I always looked up to when we were younger, and the chance I have playing with them is awesome."\nBut Jacobson and Arons are not the only people who drew Smiley to Bloomington.\n"Having family in (Indianapolis) played a role in my decision as well," Smiley said. "Having family nearby makes it feel just a little more like home."\nThe latest addition to the group is freshman Bernard Tsepelman, from Forest Hills, N.Y. The campus and tennis program attracted Tsepelman, but the education possibilities were a key for him. \n"It is, of course, an attractive school, and the business department is a big turn-on for many students," coach Ken Hydinger said. "I know that (the Kelley School of Business) played a big role in Bernard's decision. I had one father tell me that the Kelley School was one of the hottest in the New York area. There is a great respect in that area for the University's ability to combine academics and athletics."\nGood schools, athletics and atmosphere contributed to all of the decisions to attend IU. So looking at it from the other angle, what is the draw toward recruiting New England area tennis players?\n"There are a lot of good tennis players that come out of that area," Hydinger said. "There is a lot of good instruction up there and players are prepared well."\nAs for the future of men's tennis, no one knows whether this trend will continue. But one thing not in question is the effect these four players have had on IU tennis. \n"These guys are a key to our team this year," Hydinger said. "You're talking about the (No.) 2, 3, 4 and 6 players in the lineup. Ian and Paul have been a big piece of the program in the past four years, and Rahman and Bernard are a big part of our future"
(04/13/01 5:48am)
For four members of the men's tennis team, this weekend will serve as more than just two more scrappy, endurance-testing conference matches. \nSeniors Milan Rakvica, Ian Arons, Paul Jacobson and Ricardo Jordan will face tough competition as they play host to Ohio State Saturday and Penn State Sunday, but they will also face a somber goodbye as they play their last home matches. \n"It's sad watching the past four years come to an end," Arons said. "It's a tough realization to think that this will be the last chance I may get to work in a team environment like this."\nDespite the emotions going into the matches, the Hoosiers said they are just looking for two things: victories over each conference foe. \n"We are going to be playing with a lot of emotions," junior Rahman Smiley said. "To get our job done, we are going to have to play with a lot of mental strength, and everyone is going to have to fight."\nThe No. 35 Hoosiers' (11-5. 3-3 Big Ten) first opponent, Ohio State, will bring a full load to the table and come to Bloomington at noon Saturday. The No. 24 Buckeyes (18-2, 5-1) stand second in the Big Ten.\n"Ohio State will be a war and nothing short of that," coach Ken Hydinger said. "They are strong up and down the lineup, and they have tough doubles teams."\nThe Hoosiers have had recent success with the Buckeyes and will look to make this match their fifth consecutive win against Ohio State.\nIU will attempt to pick up its fifth consecutive victory against the sputtering Nittany Lions (12-8, 0-6). The sub-par record means the Lions will come out hungry, Smiley said.\n"They are struggling right now, but they have good players," Smiley said. "They are going to come in with the mind-set that they have nothing to lose. We just have to stay in the mind-set that we do have something to gain."\nWith two conference victories this weekend, the Hoosiers could push their Big Ten Conference above the .500 mark for the first time in spring conference play. But IU does not count on rolling past any league opponents. \n"These teams are tough teams and are always hard-nosed competitors," Hydinger said. "They are going to be scrappy and well-coached just like all the Big Ten teams. We are just going to have to go out there to fight. It will be emotional. We will have to stay focused mentally"
(04/12/01 5:59am)
Eleven rookies. Eleven untested riders. \nThere isn't a lot of Little 500 history for Delta Sigma Pi, Ashton and the Army ROTC. But the women of Row 9 said they are looking forward to making their mark in the 2001 race.\n#25 Delta Sigma Pi (3:21.40)\nThird year rider Megan Hakes, a senior, will lead a pack of rookies into this year's Little 500. Junior Janelle Tillema, senior Erin Mahoney and sophomore Maggie Petersen round out the Delta Sigma Pi team, which will start on the inside of the track at the No. 25 spot. \nTo prepare, the team made a spring break trip to Gainesville, Fla., but they said the trip was not just a vacation. \n"The main reason we headed to Gainesville was because many other teams go there to train," Hakes said. "We thought it would help us better prepare for the race." \nThe riders of Delta Sigma Pi already accomplished one of their goals for the season, as they qualified in their first attempt. But team members were not completely happy with the run. \n"We expected to have a faster time, but we took our exchanges slow which made our time slower," Hakes said.\nNow the team will be chasing after its second goal: improve on its position. \n"We have an inside spot, so we have a faster part of the track," Hakes said. "We need to avoid early wrecks and move up within the pack. We are looking to better our qualification spot in the race."\n#26 Ashton (3:22.80)\nWith four rookies on the team, the women of Ashton decided they needed some track work before they attempted to qualify for this year's race. Seniors Melody Lynch and Heather Moore, sophomore Ashley Chastain and freshman Jennifer Schalk stayed in Bloomington during spring break to get more of a feel for Bill Armstrong Stadium.\nUnder the guidance of coach Tim Stockton, the women worked on exchange timing, sprinting and endurance. \n"We decided to stay because we needed more track experience and difficult, structured workouts to qualify successfully for the race," Chastain said. \nTeam members said they feel the extra work paid off, but they were somewhat disappointed at qualifications. After struggling with conditions in its first run, the team "played it safe" in its second attempt to avoid returning for a third run. But the team believes its starting place is not a bad one.\n"We qualified a little lower than expected, but we will hopefully be able to make up some ground in the race," Chastain said. "Our strengths are our endurance and good exchange timing. We will be able to stay with the pack for long stretches."\n#27 Army ROTC (3:25.30)\nROTC Little 500 team members seniors Adrienne Barker and Emily Burkle, juniors Christina Sandoval and Rosemarie Hirata and sophomore Tanya Mack are used to working together. But working together on bikes is something new. \n"These girls' strength has to be unity," coach Bryon Blohm, a senior, said. "They all come from a strong background of knowing each other and working together in intense situations." \nThe women of ROTC will be represented in the race for the first time since 1997 and are looking forward to the opportunity to test their abilities on the track. The team will be starting in the No. 27 spot, but when the green flag falls, competition will not be the only thing for which the ROTC team will be racing. \n"The girls are extremely happy to be in the race and it is a really neat opportunity for them," Blohm said. "This is something the ROTC has not had anyone participate in for a few years and the girls are just focused on having fun out there"
(04/11/01 5:00am)
If men's tennis coach Ken Hydinger had to sum up his tennis program, he would do it with one name: Ian Arons.\n"Ian has been a great guy for four years," Hydinger said of the senior. "He is one of those guys who comes to work everyday and has the maturity to see the big picture. He knows and wants what is good for the team and good for the program. He portrays what we want this program to be about. He is a person of ability and responsibility as well as a classic student-athlete."\nArons' teammates agree.\n"Ian is a great teammate, and he works hard at what he does on and off the court," junior Rahman Smiley said. "He is a very team-oriented player. He plays with a lot of heart and routinely finds a way to win."\nArons has compiled an impressive list of talents in his time at IU. He has started every match in his four years as a Hoosier and has accumulated 73 victories. Playing at the No. 1 singles position in his sophomore year, Arons was named to the All-Big Ten team. Arons credits that sophomore experience for much of his success in the past two years. \n"Playing at No. 1 or 2, you learn pretty quickly that you have to play your best tennis every match to win," Arons said. "Chances are, any team you face is going to have strong No. 1 and 2 players, so you have to be prepared to play quality opponents. Playing No. 1 was a good experience, and it helped me improve a lot."\nEven more impressive than his playing accomplishments are his academic accomplishments. With three Academic All-Big Ten awards, among other academic honors, Arons has shown he is more than just a tennis player. Arons admitted the balancing act is difficult.\n"You have to continually balance your schedule to the point where you are able to get your work done on and off the court," Arons said. "You have to use your time off of the court to get your studies together."\nAcademic excellence is not something new to Arons either. As a young high school talent, he was recruited by many Ivy League schools, including Yale and Cornell. But Arons wanted more of an athletic environment and chose to attend IU.\n"Playing Big Ten tennis was a big draw," Arons said. "I wanted to go to a place where athletics were important and students cared about sports."\nWith his final season coming to a close, Arons hopes to finish his Hoosier career strong. Currently standing at 15-8 in singles play, Arons has helped lead the Hoosiers to an 11-5 record and hopes to help lead them to a Big Ten title.\n"Coming closer to the end, I have begun to realize that this is my last chance to play in a team environment," Arons said. "It has been a really emotional year, and I have really wanted to win. It has been sad watching it come to a close, but hopefully we will be able to finish it off with a Big Ten Championship."\nAfter graduating in May, Arons plans to return to his home state of New York, where he work in investment banking at Lehman Brothers.\nHis departure will sadden Hydinger.\n"He's a real hun," Hydinger said. "He's done such a great job of leadership, and you hate to see players like him go"
(03/30/01 5:18am)
The Illinois men's tennis team hasn't lost a Big Ten match since April 13, 1997. The site of that loss? Bloomington. \nThe Fighting Illini will return to the IU Tennis Center at noon Saturday for a shot at revenge and a Big Ten record.\nSince its loss to IU nearly four years ago, Illinois has won 48 consecutive Big Ten matches, just one short of the record 49 set by Michigan from 1971 to 1976. With a win against the Hoosiers Saturday and a win at Purdue Sunday, the Illini, who have won four consecutive Big Ten titles, could capture the new record. \nMeanwhile, for IU (9-4, 1-2 Big Ten), this match means more than just breaking a streak -- the Hoosiers have their own revenge at stake. Illinois (10-3, 3-0) halted the Hoosiers' 2000 NCAA tournament campaign last year. \n"It was a close match that we could have won," junior Rahman Smiley said. "We went to some tight third sets, but we just weren't able to pull it off."\nThis year's Illinois team will come in with a bit of a different look after losing three players from last season. And with three losses this season, the No. 17 Illini have shown they're vulnerable.\n"They are a very good team, but they don't seem as invincible as they used to," Smiley said. "They have lost more than they are used to this year."\nAfter playing host to Illinois Saturday, the Hoosiers will meet No. 31 Northwestern at noon Sunday in the IU Tennis Center. Northwestern (8-5, 2-1) enters the match on a two-match losing skid, including a 6-1 loss at No. 14 South Alabama Wednesday.\n"Northwestern is a good team with a lot of depth," senior Paul Jacobson said. "They are ranked ahead of us, so they are going to provide us with a tough match."\nLast season, the Hoosiers were able to edge the Wildcats 4-3 and hope they will find themselves in the same situation Sunday. IU would like to see its record boosted above .500 with a pair of league wins this weekend, but the Hoosiers said they know it won't be easy.\n"We are going against two consistently good, quality schools," coach Ken Hydinger said. "We're going to need a lot of fight and toughness, and we are going to have to stay in the process of fighting with our heads"
(03/07/01 4:55am)
Standing at 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds, men's tennis player Rahman Smiley would be an intimidating tight end. Just imagine stepping on the tennis court against him. \nAnd if the junior's size failed to frighten an opponent, a tennis ball flying his way at about 130 mph surely would. \n"His whole game is big," coach Ken Hydinger said. "He's a winner and a national-level doubles player."\nBeing a winner is not new to Smiley. In high school, Smiley posted an impressive 100-7 singles record, which included a state singles crown and another finalist appearance. Smiley led a team that captured four state championships and won 122 consecutive matches. \nThe Union, N.J., native was a star outside of tennis, also playing basketball. In his freshman year, Smiley was named to the All-State Honorable Mention team. Smiley gave up basketball to focus on tennis. His approach worked, and he made the jump from the hustle and bustle of New Jersey to rural Indiana. \n"It's a lot slower here, and I kind of miss the fast pace," Smiley said. "But people here are more friendly, and it's a lot cleaner. It's different, but a good different."\nSmiley has fit in well for the Hoosiers, starting out at the No. 6 singles position his freshman year. He has climbed to the No. 4 singles position. In spring action, Smiley stands at 14-8 in individual competition. He attributes his improvement to Hydinger.\n"He's helped me to realize my strengths and weaknesses," Smiley said. "My volleys have gotten so much better, and my whole thought process has improved. He's really helped me with my concentration."\nHydinger said he hopes Smiley's climb will continue. \n"He's a well-rounded athlete with a well-rounded game," Hydinger said. "He's got a big serve, strong volleys and strong ground strokes. He's moved a couple spots since he came in, and we'll be looking for him to move a couple spots for next year."\nOutside of his individual play, Smiley and partner Ricardo Jordan have made a dynamic duo at the No. 1 doubles position for the Hoosiers. Jordan, a senior, said Smiley's play and attitude make the duo a good combination.\n "He's a great partner," Jordan said. "He's got a powerful serve and a powerful return. He's a hard worker on the court, and he is really good to have around because of his relaxed personality."\n Smiley and Jordan have racked up a 12-5 record this season. The duo barely fell to Kansas' top doubles tandem -- which was ranked 43rd in the nation -- 8-6, Feb. 10.\nCome tournament time, Smiley said he hopes there will be no close losses.\n"Ricardo and I are hoping to make the NCAA tournament, and I think we have a chance to win it," Smiley said. "We've played some tough competition and done well. If we can improve a few things, we could be contenders"
(03/05/01 5:16am)
Seniors Ian Arons, Milan Rakvica, Ricardo Jordan and Paul Jacobson were all looking for the same thing entering Sunday's match-up with rival Purdue -- their first win against the Boilermakers. \nBut the seniors' hopes were shattered as Purdue defeated IU 5-2, dropping the Hoosiers to 8-2 on the season and 0-2 in Big Ten play. \nGetting the best of the rivalry for the fourth consecutive year, Purdue (7-2) was able to get the early lead in the match with a rare sweep of the doubles matches. But it did not come easy, with two of the matches going to tiebreakers before they were decided. \n"We had a lot of opportunities that we just didn't take advantage of," Jordan said. "We played consistently throughout but we could have done better."\nTempers raged, emotions ran wild and rackets flew as the match went into singles competition. Looking to get back for the losses at all three doubles positions, the Hoosiers came out strong, Arons in particular. After the 9-8 (4) loss at No. 2 doubles, Arons was hungry for a victory and Purdue's Carl McCafferty was his prey.\n"I had been waiting for this match all week," Arons said. "It was a really good match. I felt that after I broke him in the first set he got down. I was able to step up my game and serve really well and play well all around."\nWith Arons' win, momentum seemed to be leaning toward the Hoosiers' side. The crowd grew louder as the hopes for a Hoosier victory grew. But just as quickly as the momentum shifted, the Boilermakers won it back with wins at No. 1 and No. 6 singles. Down 3-1, IU found itself in a compromising position. The Hoosiers would have to win all three remaining matches to claim the victory. \nJunior Rahman Smiley eased tensions with clinching a win at No. 4 singles. After easily taking the first set, Smiley fought through a second set tiebreaker to defeat Derek Miller 6-3, 7-6 (2). \n"Rahman played a good match today," coach Ken Hydinger said. "He did a good job of closing out against a tough opponent. He's capable of big wins like this one and today he proved it."\nWith two matches remaining, the crowds focus turned to Jacobson and sophomore Zach Held. Both matches were pushed to three sets, but they both got there in different manners.\nPlaying at No. 3 singles, Jacobson appeared to be rolling to a victory before being broken at the end of the second set, eventually losing the set in a tiebreaker. Held, after starting slow and losing the first set, rebounded to sweep through the second set, forcing a third. \nHeld stuck close to Purdue's Andrew Wakefield as they exchanged games. As the match drew near to the end, controversial line calls started to draw tempers from both sides. Held and Wakefield kept the line judge busy, questioning several calls, although few were overruled. One such call by Wakefield would prove to be the final touch the Boilermakers needed to clinch the victory. \nJacobson, now playing for pride, found himself down 4-1. A shocked and quiet crowd would watch Jacobson pull together to even the match at 4-4. But Jacobson eventually ran out of gas and fell to Scott Mayer, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5. \n"They got the job done and we didn't," Hydinger said. "Give them credit for coming out and playing tough."\nAlthough the seniors were unable to accomplish their goal Sunday, they might have another chance to defeat the Boilers if they were to happen to meet in the Big Ten Tournament in April. And the Hoosiers are hoping that will be the case.\n"We would pay a million dollars to play these guys in the Big Ten tournament," Arons said. "We feel we are a better team"
(03/02/01 5:53am)
Dinner with Doubles? \nMost would consider this a double date. While it is a date of some sorts, the men's tennis team does not plan on treating its guests kindly on the court. \nDinner with Doubles is the catch phrase used by IU, which will play host to a buffet Sunday morning and battle rival Purdue at noon Sunday in the IU Tennis Center. For $5, spectators are invited to an all-you-can-eat buffet, sponsored by Pizza Hut, as well as being entered in a raffle of prizes including tennis rackets, sweat suits and T-shirts.\nAlthough IU (7-1) holds the overall match record against the Boilermakers (6-2) 46-22, the Hoosiers have not been able to pull off a victory in the past three years. After entering last year as the favorite, IU fell 4-3 in West Lafayette. But the Hoosiers are hoping to turn things around this year. \n"I have never beaten them," senior Ian Arons said. "Last year, we entered as the favorite and we lost an exciting match. It would be awesome for us to take them out this year, especially in our own place."\nPurdue enters the match after falling to Notre Dame 4-3, in a match-up which it led until the end. Earlier in the season, IU slid by Notre Dame 4-3, but the Hoosiers do not see this as any indication of what will happen Sunday. \n"Purdue is a good team," junior Rahman Smiley said. "There are going to be a lot of close matches and it should be very exciting. We just have to focus and continue fighting."\nBefore playing host to Purdue on Sunday, the Hoosiers will also battle Memphis at noon Saturday in the IU Tennis Center. The Tigers are coming off of a close 5-2 loss to No. 10 Mississippi. \n"We haven't seen Memphis in recent years," coach Ken Hydinger said. "They are coming in here after a close match with a very good team in Ole Miss. They played them pretty close from top to bottom, which says a lot about them."\nAfter a week in which midterms slowed the pace of practice, the team does not predict any problems if it enters these matches with the right mindset.\n"I think all the guys know that this weekend there are only two things we have to concentrate on, and that is Purdue and Memphis," Smiley said. \nHydinger said he believes his team will be ready, too.\n"With midterms, this hasn't been the best week to practice," Hydinger said. "We just have to keep our focus and do what we've been doing. It's going to be a knock-down, drag-out match. There is no other way to describe it"
(02/27/01 6:46am)
Much can change in four years. Senior Milan Rakvica can vouch for that.\nFour years ago, Rakvica was in the Czech Republic studying at a local university. Looking to study elsewhere, he spoke with friend and fellow tennis player, Ondrej Holik, who had just been hired as an assistant coach with IU's men's tennis team. Holik, from the same town as Rakvica, brought his prospect to coach Ken Hydinger. \n"I never got to see Milan play, so I was going on what Ondrej told me about him," Hydinger said. "I trust Ondrej, and he told me (Milan) was a good guy and a good player. Good enough to eventually play No. 1 (singles)."\nDuring his first year on the team, Rakvica drew attention. Playing in the No. 4 singles spot, he led the team in overall victories and fell two wins short of tying the IU single-season record for wins, putting his name in the record books as one of five Hoosiers to win 30 matches in a season, including 17 in a row. \nRakvica's eyes were also opened in his first season. \n"It was kind of tough in the beginning," Rakvica said. "I had to get used to a different culture, and the language was the hardest part. But it was a lot easier after I made friends and got to know the team."\nIn his junior year, Rakvica added to his list of achievements being named All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten with a 25-win season.\nNow, Holik's prediction has become a reality as Rakvica is in the No. 1 position for the No. 31 Hoosiers. \n"He's matured every year," Hydinger said. "Playing at No. 1, he has played a lot of tough competition and has done a great job of staying in every match. He's a heck of a player."\nHolik said he is also proud of his product.\n"Milan has been playing very well this season and has picked up some good wins," Holik said. "He is a great baseliner with quick feet, and he does a great job of keeping the ball in play. It is hard to play No. 1, but he has done a good job of being patient and playing steady."\nPlaying No. 1 for the Hoosiers has been a challenge for Rakvica. This season, he has already faced two of the top 10 players in the nation, defeating Minnesota's Harsh Mankad and losing a hard-fought match to Arkansas's Oskar Johansson, the nation's No. 1 player. \nBut playing against high-caliber tennis players is not all that new to Rakvica. After deciding to focus on tennis around age 12, Rakvica began playing on a club team. In his six years of playing, Rakvica's club team won two national championships in the Czech Republic, giving him the experience of facing several players that are now among the top 100 in the world. \n"Playing No. 1, you face a lot of tough competition," Rakvica said. "Playing this level of tennis is harder mentally and physically, but I feel like I have done a good job of learning to control my emotions."\nThings are going well so far as Rakvica has led the Hoosiers to a 7-1 team record and compiled a 5-3 individual record. He was also a quarterfinalist in the 2001 Big Ten Singles Championships. Rakvica is happy with the season to this point, but is hoping the best is yet to come, for himself as well as the team. \n"I would really like for us to win the Big Ten as a team and do as well as we can in the NCAAs," Rakvica said. "We've been working really hard, and things are going pretty well so far"
(02/27/01 6:39am)
Much can change in four years. Senior Milan Rakvica can vouch for that.\nFour years ago, Rakvica was in the Czech Republic studying at a local university. Looking to study elsewhere, he spoke with friend and fellow tennis player, Ondrej Holik, who had just been hired as an assistant coach with IU's men's tennis team. Holik, from the same town as Rakvica, brought his prospect to coach Ken Hydinger. \n"I never got to see Milan play, so I was going on what Ondrej told me about him," Hydinger said. "I trust Ondrej, and he told me (Milan) was a good guy and a good player. Good enough to eventually play No. 1 (singles)."\nDuring his first year on the team, Rakvica drew attention. Playing in the No. 4 singles spot, he led the team in overall victories and fell two wins short of tying the IU single-season record for wins, putting his name in the record books as one of five Hoosiers to win 30 matches in a season, including 17 in a row. \nRakvica's eyes were also opened in his first season. \n"It was kind of tough in the beginning," Rakvica said. "I had to get used to a different culture, and the language was the hardest part. But it was a lot easier after I made friends and got to know the team."\nIn his junior year, Rakvica added to his list of achievements being named All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten with a 25-win season.\nNow, Holik's prediction has become a reality as Rakvica is in the No. 1 position for the No. 31 Hoosiers. \n"He's matured every year," Hydinger said. "Playing at No. 1, he has played a lot of tough competition and has done a great job of staying in every match. He's a heck of a player."\nHolik said he is also proud of his product.\n"Milan has been playing very well this season and has picked up some good wins," Holik said. "He is a great baseliner with quick feet, and he does a great job of keeping the ball in play. It is hard to play No. 1, but he has done a good job of being patient and playing steady."\nPlaying No. 1 for the Hoosiers has been a challenge for Rakvica. This season, he has already faced two of the top 10 players in the nation, defeating Minnesota's Harsh Mankad and losing a hard-fought match to Arkansas's Oskar Johansson, the nation's No. 1 player. \nBut playing against high-caliber tennis players is not all that new to Rakvica. After deciding to focus on tennis around age 12, Rakvica began playing on a club team. In his six years of playing, Rakvica's club team won two national championships in the Czech Republic, giving him the experience of facing several players that are now among the top 100 in the world. \n"Playing No. 1, you face a lot of tough competition," Rakvica said. "Playing this level of tennis is harder mentally and physically, but I feel like I have done a good job of learning to control my emotions."\nThings are going well so far as Rakvica has led the Hoosiers to a 7-1 team record and compiled a 5-3 individual record. He was also a quarterfinalist in the 2001 Big Ten Singles Championships. Rakvica is happy with the season to this point, but is hoping the best is yet to come, for himself as well as the team. \n"I would really like for us to win the Big Ten as a team and do as well as we can in the NCAAs," Rakvica said. "We've been working really hard, and things are going pretty well so far"
(02/23/01 6:16am)
The men's tennis team had its four-match winning streak broken last weekend at Minnesota, dropping the team out of the Top 25. But, with a win Monday against Brown, the No. 31 Hoosiers are looking to start a new streak. \nIU, although tired, played a solid game against Brown, taking all matches with the exception of the No. 3 doubles match. After taking off Tuesday and Wednesday, the team is rested and preparing to play host to Murray State 9 a.m. Saturday at the IU Tennis Center. \nMurray State enters Hoosier territory defending a 4-2 record and a three-match winning streak. But, the Racers will be at a disadvantage when the match starts Saturday.\n"Murray State has been has been playing one player short," coach Ken Hydinger said. \nIn its last three wins, Murray State has been forced to forfeit the No. 6 singles match because of a lack of players. Strength in numbers might be a deciding factor in the match's decision. \nThe Hoosiers also have history on their side. With recent success against a slumping Racer program, IU will enter the match as the favorite.\n"The past two years we have picked up pretty easy wins against them," senior Paul Jacobson said. "But, that is not to say that this match will be easy." \nAnd an easy match is not what the Hoosiers are expecting. With coach Mel Purcell, a former professional and Wimbledon quarterfinalist, rebuilding the Murray State program, the match should be interesting.\n"You never know what to expect," junior Rahman Smiley said. "They have a good coach who was a very good player. It should be a close match"
(02/20/01 5:32am)
A road trip to Indiana proved difficult for the Brown University Bears.\nEntering the Hoosier state 3-0, Brown leaves with a 3-3 record after suffering losses to Indiana State and Purdue over the weekend, and IU Monday afternoon. \nClosing out a road trip of their own over the weekend and playing their third match in the past five days, the Hoosiers were glad to be in familiar territory and made the most of it. \nStarting out a little slow, IU struggled through the round of doubles play. After splitting with a win at No. 1 and a loss at No. 3 -- their first loss of the season -- the No. 2 doubles team of seniors Ian Arons and Milan Rakvica pulled through for the Hoosiers and helped them to claim their first point of the night. \nThis would set a trend for the rest of the match. \nMatch-by-match, the Hoosiers claimed each point, sweeping the Bears. But not all of the matches came easily. \nAt No. 3 singles senior Paul Jacobson was looking to get back into the win column Monday night after having his eight-match winning streak broken Saturday at Minnesota. Jacobson got off to a hot start jumping out to a 5-0 lead. Then he hit the wall, dropping the next four sets.\n"After all the traveling, it was hard not to run into some mental and physical fatigue," Jacobson said. "It was really difficult to concentrate mentally."\nDespite the fatigue, Jacobson pulled together closing out the first set 6-4 and then claiming the second 6-3. \nRolling quickly through the first set, junior Rahman Smiley, playing at No. 4 singles, found the situation flipped in the second set. Smiley dropped the second set 3-6, but was able to get back on track and posted a 6-2 third set victory.\n"After the first set, I just lost my concentration," Smiley said. "We played a lot of tennis the past five days, and it was hard to concentrate. But the guys did a good job of fighting and pulling through to get this win."\nSmiley was happy to get the win, but said his body was telling a different story after days of traveling. "My body is not too happy right now," Smiley said. "I think all the time on the buses and in the planes is what is hurting the most right now. I just wasn't able to come in with as much energy tonight."\nRakvica struggled through the longest match -- No. 1 singles -- of the day finally closing out with the win in two long sets. The youth at the bottom of the lineup also pulled through for the Hoosiers as junior Zach Held and freshman Bernard Tsepelman both came away victorious. Arons, playing at No. 2, closed out the scoring for IU with a third set win.\n"I thought we did a really good job with our singles," coach Ken Hydinger said. "No. 2 and 3 doubles could have played with a little more emotion, but they all played hard. Coming off of the road trip, this was a good win for us. Brown is a good, solid team"