March 2, 2011
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THIS WEEK: The University of Iowa men’s tennis team will begin Big Ten competition at home, hosting Illinois. The No. 73 Hawkeyes will take on No. 4 Illinois this Sunday at noon inside the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center. Iowa will be looking to make it four in a row after winning the past three matches.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: Illinois is 6-4 overall and ranked in the top 10 nationally. The Fighting Illini have three ranked singles players in No. 9 Dennis Nevolo, No. 62 Johnny Hamui and No. 65 Abe Souza. Iowa is 21-55 in the all-time series with Illinois.
HAWKEYE COMPETITORS: Iowa’s tentative lineup features Marc Bruche, Nikita Zotov, Will Vasos, Austen Kauss, Tom Mroziewicz, Garret Dunn and Jonas Dierckx.
LIVE RESULTS: Live results for the Iowa-Illinois match will be avaliable on the men’s tennis schedule page on hawkeyesports.com
IN THE RANKINGS: The Hawkeyes are once again ranked by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, earning a No. 73 position. Iowa also is ranked in doubles for the first time all season, as Vasos and Kauss are ranked No. 71.
IOWA WINS RIVALRY MATCH: Iowa claimed a rivalry win at home its last time out, topping Drake 5-2 to improve its win streak to three matches. Iowa won all three doubles matches for the second time this season, and went 4-2 in singles action. Marc Bruche defeated No. 122 Maricio Ballivan 6-2, 6-3. Will Vasos, Austen Kauss, and Garret Dunn each picked up singles victories as well.
HOME COMFORTS: The Hawkeyes are perfect on their home courts, going 4-0 at the HTRC. Iowa will have the next three contests on the road after this match. Each of Iowa’s losses have come on the road, and to ranked teams.
HEAD COACH Steve Houghton: Steve Houghton, the dean of Big Ten tennis coaches, is in his 30th year as head coach of the Hawkeyes. He has compiled a career record of 327-331 (.499), recording the most wins of any coach in Iowa men’s tennis history. Houghton recorded his 300th win at Indiana State Feb. 6, 2009.
UP NEXT: Iowa will go on a crusade through Florida next, starting with UCF on March 11. Iowa will also play at South Florida and Florida Atlantic.