Hawks Head North

Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | Hawk Talk Monthly — March 2017 | MTenns NOTES: Minnesota

THIS WEEK:
The University of Iowa men’s tennis team (10-6, 1-1) travels to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a match-up against No. 32 Minnesota (11-4, 0-1) on Sunday at 3 p.m. (CT). 

JACOBY 

  • Junior Jake Jacoby is 10-5 in singles play.
  • He’s currently on a five match win streak.
  • His first win during the team’s Spring Break trip to San Diego was against his mother’s alma mater (Harvard).
  • Jacoby has defeated both Big Ten opponents that he has faced this season. 
  • Nine of Jacoby’s wins have been straight sets, more than any of his teammates. 
  • In doubles action, Jacoby and senior Robin Haden boast the best record at 10-3.
  • Jacoby/Haden are 2-0 in conference action. 

 
“Everyone has their individual records in the back of their heads, but coach Wilson has created a culture where it’s more important to pull off a clutch win in those close, 4-3, or 5-2, matches,” said Jacoby.
“Whether or not people have better records than me isn’t as important to me as having teammates who can thrive in those tough moments.
“We have a lot of those guys in both singles and doubles.” 

SCOUTING MINNESOTA

  • The Gophers are tied with SMU for 32nd in the national rankings.
  • Minnesota lost to then-No. 32 Wisconsin on March 11. 
  • They have no ranked wins this season. 
  • Junior Matic Spec in ranked 80th in the nation.
  • Spec and fellow junior Felix Corwin are No. 69 in the doubles rankings. 
  • Minnesota leads the all-time series with the Hawkeyes, 57-36.
  • Last season, the Hawkeyes defeated the Gophers, 4-1, in Iowa City.

COACH ROSS WILSON ON MINNESOTA
“They’re definitely a better team this season. Last year, one of their top players had an injury and he’s back to 100 percent. Their No. 3 player is a freshman who is really good; everyone in their line-up has improved.  We’ve had the same strategy all year. We’re going to try to go in and compete at a high level mentally and if we can do that we’re going to have a good chance to be successful on Sunday.” 

SPRING BREAK RECAP
Last week, the Hawkeyes traveled to San Diego for the USD/SDSU Inivitational. Iowa defeated Harvard in the first round before falling to No. 25 Oregon in the second round and San Diego in the third place match.
 
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
Fans can follow the Hawkeyes all season long and receive live match updates on Facebook (facebook.com/IowaMensTennis) or on Twitter (@IowaMensTennis). Fans can also get a behind the scene look on Instagram (iowamenstennis). 

34149