Feb. 1, 2014
Iowa vs. Illinois State Men’s Tennis Highlights Read the February issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa men’s tennis team opened the spring season sweeping Illinois State and Western Illinois Saturday afternoon at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. The Hawkeyes only dropped one set en route to a pair of 7-0 victories.
“I thought it was a very business-like job on our part today in winning both matches,” said Head Coach Steve Houghton. “I was concerned guys would come out in the second match and still be enjoying the first one, but they did a really good job of coming out and taking care of business.”
Iowa opened the afternoon facing the Illinois State Redbirds, a team the Hawkeyes had dropped the previous two meetings. In doubles play, the duo of Nils Hallestrand and Joey White, playing in the No. 3 spot, got the Hawkeyes started with a 6-1 win over Kranjnc/Oliveira. Iowa secured the doubles point when the No. 1 team of Brian Alden and Michael Swank dropped Eisner/Torrellas, 6-3. In No. 2 doubles, the match featuring Jonas Dierckx and Juan Estenssoro against Steffens/Wilson went unfinished, with the Hawkeye duo up 5-2.
In singles, it was a clean sweep, as Iowa won all six singles matches. Five of the six matches were won in two sets, with Juan Estenssoro coming back to win 6-0, 6-4, after dropping the first set 6-2.
After a short break, the Hawkeyes took to the courts again to face the Leathernecks, in what turned into a one-sided affair. Iowa dominated the doubles play with a pair of 6-0 victories by Dierckx/Estenssoro and Hallestrand/White. In singles, the entire lineup won in two sets, out scoring the Leathernecks 72 games to 19.
Making his college dual debut, freshman Nils Hallestrand posted two doubles victories in the No. 3 spots while winning two singles matches, one at No. 6 and the other at No. 5. While the freshman was nervous, you wouldn’t know it based off the results.
“In these dual matches there is a lot more pressure compared to the tournaments in the fall. You play for the team and your spot is important for the team outcome,” said Hallestrand. “After my first set of singles I felt like I could relax a little bit because I knew I could play at the level I needed to.”
Iowa has a quick turnaround, as it will host UMKC Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the HTRC. Coach Houghton hopes to see the best out of his team against the Kangaroos.
“I tell the guys that they need to challenge themselves, play as well as you can play, and don’t pay a lot of attention to the opposition,” said Houghton. “We will have practice on Monday and have them ready and focused for every match.”
Iowa 7, Illinois State 0
Singles
1. Jonas Dierckx (Iowa) def. Jakub Eisner (ISU): 6-5 (7-4), 6-4
2. Juan Estenssoro (Iowa) def. Jacob Wilson (ISU): 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
3. Dominic Patrick (Iowa) def. Rolando Torrellas (ISU): 6-3, 6-4
4. Brian Alden (Iowa) def. Urh Kranjnc Domiter (ISU): 6-1, 6-5 (7-3)
5. Michael Swank (Iowa) def. Rodrigo Oliveira (ISU): 6-5 (7-2), 6-4
6. Nils Hallestrand (Iowa) def. Dylan Steffens (ISU): 6-5 (7-3), 6-5 (7-4)
Doubles
1. Alden/Swank (Iowa) def. Eisner/Torrellas (ISU): 6-3
2. Dierckx/J. Estenssoro (Iowa) vs. Steffens/Wilson (ISU): 5-2, unfinished
3. Hallestrand/White (Iowa) def. Kranjnc Domiter/Oliveira: 6-1
Iowa 7, Western Illinois 0
Singles
1. Jonas Dierckx (Iowa) def. Christoph Haertel (WIU): 6-1, 6-5 (7-4)
2. Juan Estenssoro (Iowa) def. Mitch Granger (WIU): 6-1, 6-4
3. Dominic Patrick (Iowa) def. Max Cederkall (WIU): 6-0, 6-1
4. Michael Swank (Iowa) def. Brandon Meeker (WIU): 6-0, 6-1
5. Nils Hallestrand (Iowa) def. Chris Brunch (WIU): 6-1, 6-2
6. Joey White (Iowa) def. Brett Furmanski (WIU): 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
1. Alden/Swank (Iowa) def. Granger/Christoph (WIU): 4-2, unfinished
2. Dierckx/J. Estenssoro (Iowa) def. Cederkall/Meeker (WIU): 6-0
3. Hallestrand/White (Iowa) def. Bunch/Furmanski (WIU): 6-0
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