The Indiana men’s tennis team returned to Bloomington on Friday to attend Illinois State University after losing on Feb. 26 in the first game of the season against Louisville.
The Hoosiers fired from all cylinders in the doubles competition, with the three pairs quickly gaining a 5-1 lead. The No. 3 doubles match ended in a 6-1 victory over young Indian Luka Vukovic and second-placed Michael Andre against Redbirds junior Nan Pham and first-class pair Dominick Cuchran.
Moments later, Indiana senior Patrick Fletchall and runner-up Ilya Tiraspolsky won the 2nd game with the same score and the Hoosiers got on the board with a double point.
Coach Jeremy Wurtzman stressed the importance of setting the tone early, especially in Indiana’s home games.
“We want to be aggressive, make it a tough place to play with energy and play for the other team,” Wurtzman said. “We never wanted to put our opponent too comfortable, and we did a great job.”
Wurtzman said in the previous game against Louisville, Indiana, that the team could not run in areas that were successful against Illinois State because the Hoosier players were unable to get a doubles point and the initial individual differences were detrimental.
“Our energy was great, and we competed well,” Wurtzman said.
On Friday, however, the Hoosiers carried out their game plan almost perfectly.
“We talked a lot about being ready to go from the first point and playing on our terms,” Wurtzman said.
After winning the doubles point against the Redbirds visitors, the Hoosiers never looked back.
They took the lead in the individual matches, as the victories in the 1st, 2nd and 5th places were the second, third and fourth points of Indiana in the afternoon.
Indiana senior Carson Haskins held Pham 6-1, 6-3. Fletchal beat Melker Isaksson of Illinois State 6-1, 6-2. Senior Vikash Singh closed out Hoosiers ’match with junior Arvid Hjalte with a tidy 6-0, 6-0 win.
With the rest of Friday’s individual games stalled as Indiana confirmed its 4-0 victory, no Hoosier players were left. Vukovic beat Redbird senior Diego Le Gal Perez 6-3, 5-1 in a No. 3 singles match. Ilya Tiraspolsky led senior Diego Emilio Moura Herrera 6-4, 3-0, in 4th place. Jagger Saylor rounded out the lineup with a 6-4, 2-1 lead.
Wurtzman said the two players, Fletchall and Vukovic, have been some of Indiana’s most trusted solo competitors to date.
“Patrick has exceeded expectations this season, and that’s what we need from all of our boys,” Wurtzman said. “Luke’s game (Friday) should be a big boost to his confidence as well.”
Fletchall and Vukovic are both 5-3 in singles matches that have ended this season.
The Hoosiers will look to build a winning streak from Friday’s main win. They will travel to Auburn, Alabama, on Monday to host the 25th-ranked Auburn University Tigers.
Although his next opponent will be one of Indiana’s strongest faces throughout the season, Wurtzman said the team is ready to head south with a win. Wurtzman said games like the one against Illinois State will prepare Hoosiers to host some of the best programs in the country.
“Winning helps,” Wurtzman said. “You can practice anything you want, but it will be a real confidence to win games.”
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