April 19, 2010
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- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch (2009-10 season)
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Complete Release in PDF Format
THIS WEEK
The 72nd-ranked University of Iowa men’s tennis team closes the regular season this weekend. Iowa, 11-8 overall and 3-5 in conference play, travels to face Purdue Friday. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. (CT). The Hawkeyes, 5-2 at home, host Minnesota Sunday in the regular season finale. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. Admission is free.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Purdue is 11-12 overall and 1-7 in conference play. The Boilermakers are led by first year Head Coach Pawel Gajdzik. Minnesota, ranked 37th nationally, is 11-9 overall and 4-4 in Big Ten action. Minnesota is in fifth in the Big Ten, one spot ahead of the Hawkeyes. The Gophers are coached by fourth year Head Coach Geoff Young.
SENIOR SEND-OFF
Sunday’s match against the Gophers will mark the final home match for three Hawkeye seniors, Patrick Dwyer, Reinoud Haal and Tommy McGeorge. The trio will be honored between doubles and singles competition.
THE SERIES
Iowa is 36-27 all-time against Purdue and is 33-52-3 against Minnesota. The Hawkeyes defeated Purdue at home last season (4-3) and fell at Minnesota (7-0).
LAST TIME OUT
The Hawkeyes hosted two matches in Iowa City over the weekend. The Black and Gold fell to No. 32 Wisconsin Friday (5-2) before downing No. 53 Northwestern Sunday (6-1).
MATCH NOTE
The Hawkeyes have played 20 matches this season and hold a record of 11-8. Iowa’s match against Sacramento State was protested. ITA determined that neither team would receive a win or a loss due to the illegality of Sacramento State’s lineup. While neither squad earned a win or a loss, all individual results still count.
IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa is ranked No. 72 in the current ITA team rankings. Nine of the 11 Big Ten schools are nationally ranked. Iowa is ranked fourth in the latest central region rankings. In addition, sophomore Marc Bruche is the 15th-ranked singles player in the central region. Rankings can be found at itatennis.com.
HEAD COACH Steve Houghton
Steve Houghton, the dean of Big Ten coaches, is in his 29th year as head coach of the Hawkeyes. He has compiled a career record of 321-326 (.496), recording the most wins of any coach in Iowa men’s tennis history. Houghton recorded his 300th win at Indiana State Feb. 6, 2009. In 1989, Houghton was named NCAA Region IV Coach of the Year and picked up his 100th career dual win. Four of Houghton’s athletes have also been selected Big Ten Sportsman of the Year. He became the winningest coach in Iowa tennis history in 1992 and is a member of the Iowa Tennis Hall of Fame. While playing at Iowa, Houghton had a career winning percentage of .727 (40-15), second best in Iowa history.