March 14, 2014
- Read the March issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- Download your Hawk Talk Monthly iOS app
- Download your Hawk Talk Monthly android app
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone/iPad app
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye android app
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
THIS WEEK
The No. 57 University of Iowa men’s tennis team concludes its nonconference slate as the Hawkeyes travel east for their spring break trip to South Carolina. Iowa will face No. 75 College of Charleston on Friday, March 14, The Citadel on Saturday, March 15, and will conclude the road trip with a match against Furman on Tuesday, March 13. The matches against the College of Charleston and Furman will begin at 2 p.m. (CT), while Iowa’s meet against The Citadel will start at 1:30 p.m.
HAWKEYES DOWN BRADLEY
The Iowa men’s tennis team improved to 8-2 on the season with a 6-1 victory over Bradley on March 7th. Iowa opened up the match by taking the doubles point for the ninth time this season, recording an 8-1 mark when claiming the doubles point. Seniors Brian Alden and Juan Estenssoro claimed the point with an 8-4 victory at the No. 1 spot, marking the first time the duo had played together.
Iowa cruised to victory in singles behind five straight-sets wins. Senior Jonas Dierckx claimed the first set 6-0 in his No. 1 singles match, before his opponent was forced to retire due to injury. Brian Alden, Juan Estenssoro, Matt Hagan, and Nils Hallestrand all picked up victories as well for the Hawkeyes.
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
Fans can follow along all season to the Hawkyes and receive live match updates on Facebook (facebook.com/IowaMensTennis) or on Twitter (@IowaMensTennis).
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
College of Charleston enters the meet with a 8-3 record and arranked 75th in the country. The Cougars, led Jay Bruner, are currently riding a five-match winning streak. Brice Allanic and Rodrigo Encinas headline the roster at the No. 1 and 2 singles position while Allanic and Charlie Ghriskey make up the No. 1 doubles team.
The Citadel is 2-16 on the season, and have lost 10 matches in a row. Chuck Kriese is in his first year at the helm of the Bulldog program. Elliott Sperr and Dillon Berkabile headline the singles and team up at the No. 1 doubles spot as well.
Furman, who is 6-6 on the season, has dropped its past two matches to Stanford and and Pepperdine on the team’s current west coast trip. Kelly Jones, in his third year with the Paladin program, features Adam Steryous and Matt Browne atop his singles lineup.
HAWKEYES IN THE RANKINGS
The Hawkeyes are ranked 57th in the most recent ITA national rankings, released on March 11. Iowa is one of 11 Big Ten teams ranked in the polls along with Ohio State (1), Illinois (6), Northwestern (26), Penn State (27), Purdue (40), Michigan (41), Minnesota (51), Nebraska (56), Wisconsin (58), and Indiana (59).
IOWA DOUBLES STREAKING
The Hawkeyes have excelled in doubles play this season. In 9-of-10 maches this season, the Hawkeyes have claimed the doubles point. Senior Joey White leads the way with a 8-1 record at the No. 3 spot, having been paired with both junior Matt Hagan and freshman Nils Hallestrand. Seniors Jonas Dierckx and Juan Estenssoro have paired up at the No. 2 doubles spot and have recorded a 5-1 record on the spring. Iowa is 8-1 overall when winning the doubles point.
HAWKEYES STARTING STRONG
The Hawkeyes are off to a hot start in 2014, posting a 8-2 record through their first ten matches. The eight wins tops Iowa’s win total from a year ago, when the Hawkeyes finished 7-17. The 8-2 start marks the best start for the program since the spring of 2009 when the team started 8-2.
FRESHMAN SHINES IN DEBUT
Making his college dual debut, freshman Nils Hallestrand delivered, posting two singles and two doubles wins to help the Hawkeyes sweep Illinois State and Western Illinois. He won a pair of doubles matches in the No. 3 spot with teammate Joey White, while also picking up victories in the No. 5 and No. 6 singles spot. This spring, Hallestrand is 4 -0 in singles play and 3-0 in doubles.
NEW ASSISTANT COACH Ross Wilson
Ross Wilson is in his first year as an assistant coach after serving last season as an assistant coach at San Diego. Wilson was named the 2012 ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year and ITA Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2011 after he helped guide San Diego to a third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Wilson was a two-time NCAA All-American and three-time ITA national doubles champion during his playing days at Ohio State.
WILSON’STHOUGHTS ON SPRING BREAK TRIP
“It will be nice to get outside and get used to playing in these conditions. Balls will travel a little slower, there will be some wind, there will be some sun and those are the conditions we will play the last half of the season in. We will get some challenges thrown our way. Charleston is ranked so that is a chance for us to get a ranked win on the road. Furman gets big crowds to their matches so we are excited for the opportunity.”