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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa men’s tennis team posted a thrilling, 4-3, win over Purdue on Sunday. Senior Day welcomed the largest crowd of the season at the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Complex.
With the match tied, 3-3, freshman Piotr Smientana rallied to win his match on court two, 6-4, in the third set to earn the Hawkeyes their 12th home victory of the season. Smietana was able to push his match to a third set by prevailing, 7-5, in a second set tiebreak.
The match started with the Hawkeyes capturing the doubles point for the 20th time this year. Will Davies and Smietana defeated Purdue’s nationally-ranked doubles team, 6-1, to boost their record against ranked opponents to 2-0. The freshmen tandem have won 16 of their last 20 decisions. Jake Jacoby/Joe Tyler followed serve in their victory at on court three, 6-3. Jonas Larsen/Kareem Allaf‘s match went unfinished due to Iowa capturing the point.
In singles action, Allaf and Tyler won in straight sets on courts four and three, respectively. Allaf’s victory was his career-best six straight win, while also remaining unbeaten in four Big Ten singles matches on court four. The redshirt sophomore’s victory improved the Hawkeyes on court four to 20-5 this season. Tyler and Allaf lead the squad in Big Ten singles wins, each registering five. Josh Silverstein, Jacoby, and Davies each dropped their singles matches.
Today was Iowa’s seventh match of the season, and third straight, decided by a 4-3 score.
QUOTING HEAD COACH ROSS WILSON:
“It was a great day for us getting a huge win on Senior Day. Josh and Jake, they’ve been here since my first year. They were a part of my first recruiting class and we have built this thing up together. They have grown a lot as people and they really love Iowa. They’re great people and competitors. We will miss them a lot.”
“Piotr battled all the way back after being down a set, and was able to clinch the match for us. You can’t say enough about him. He’s a freshman who is high in the lineup and he has taken some losses, but he comes to practice every day with great energy. So today when he was able to clinch the match I was proud of him. Our home season is coming to an end and it is always great to end the season with a win, especially on Senior Day.”
NEXT MATCH:
The Hawkeyes will play at Michigan (Saturday) and Michigan State (Sunday) next weekend in their last two regular season matches.
Iowa 4, Purdue 3
April 15, 2018 | noon (CT) | Iowa City, Iowa | HTRC
Singles
1. #92 Gergely Madarasz def. Josh Silverstein (UI): 6-0, 6-0
2. Piotr Smietana (UI) def. Maksymilian Raupuk (PUR): 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4
3. Joe Tyler (UI) def. Mateo Julio (PUR): 6-2, 6-4
4. Kareem Allaf (UI) def. Stephan Koenigsfest (PUR): 6-4, 6-1
5. Athell Bennett (PUR) def. Will Davies (UI) 6-2, 7-6(9)
6. Javier Rodriguez (PUR) def. Jake Jacoby (UI): 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
1. Larsen/Allaf (UI) vs. Julio/Sochurek (PUR): 4-3
2. Davies/Smietana (UI) def. #68 Bennett/Raupuk (PUR): 6-1
3. Tyler/Jacoby (UI) def. Hanayama/Madarasz (PUR): 6-3
Match Notes:
Iowa: 14-13 (3-6)
Purdue: 10-14 (2-7)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3) Singles (1,3,4,5,6,2)
