Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Fight For Iowa | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2018-19 | Match Notes (PDF)
THIS WEEK:
The University of Iowa men’s tennis team will travel for the first time this year when they square-off against the Cornell Big Red in Ithaca, New York, at the Reis Tennis Center at 9 a.m. (ET). Five of Iowa’s next six matches will be contested away from Iowa City.
LAST WEEK:
• The Hawkeyes swept matches against UMKC (W, 4-3) and Omaha (W, 5-2).
• The Intercollegiate Tennis Association ranked the Hawkeyes No. 42 with its latest rankings released earlier this week. It marks the second straight season Iowa checks in at No. 42 in the initial expanded rankings in February.
SEASON RECAP:
• The Hawkeyes (8-1) are off to their best start in the Ross Wilson era.
• Iowa has won the doubles point in eight of the nine matches. The Hawkeyes boast two doubles tandems that are off to a hot start, Will Davies/Oliver Okonkwo (8-1) and Kareem Allaf/Jonas Larsen (7-2).
CORNELL BREAKDOWN:
• The Big Red are coached by Silviu Tanasoiu. He is in his seventh season with the program, boasting a record of 95-64 (.597).
• Cornell is 3-5 overall and this is their first home dual of the season.
• The Hawkeyes are 3-3 all-time against the Big Red. Iowa lost last year’s match against Cornell, 4-3, in Iowa City.
HAWKEYE NOTABLES:
• Kareem Allaf won 11 matches during competition, including seven in a row to capture the ITA Central Regional championship. He became the third Hawkeye to accomplish the feat in school history.
• The nationally-ranked Hawkeyes are winners of three straight and eight of their last nine.
• Will Davies and Oliver Okonkwo are a combined 30-6 in singles and doubles competition through nine matches.
• Larsen’s 54 career doubles wins that puts him tied for 11th in program history.
• With one more singles win, Allaf will crack the Top-15 in program history for the Hawkeyes.
• Iowa has competed against five teams who made the NCAA Tournament a year ago, including beating three former-conference champions.
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES:
Fans can follow the Hawkeyes all season long and receive live match updates on Facebook (facebook.com/IowaMensTennis) and Twitter (@IowaMensTennis). Fans can also get a behind the scenes look on Instagram (iowamenstennis).
HEAD COACH ROSS WILSON:
Ross Wilson, a former two-time NCAA All-American and three-time ITA national doubles champion at Ohio State, is in his fifth season as head coach and sixth year with the Iowa men’s tennis program.
