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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa freshman Oliver Okonkwo has been named the Big Ten Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week; the league office announced Tuesday.
Okonkwo won two singles matches and one doubles match last weekend in contests against No. 30 Penn State and top-ranked Ohio State. Okonkwo won two matches in helping lead the Hawkeyes to an upset victory over the 30th-ranked Nittany Lions on Friday in Iowa City, its second win over a ranked opponent this spring (No. 18 Minnesota). The native of Berkshire, England, defeated Gabriel Nemeth in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) at No. 3 in singles. He also teamed up with partner Will Davies to knock off the eighth-ranked doubles team in the country in convincing fashion (6-2); their third win over a ranked doubles team this spring. Davies and Okonkwo are ranked 58th nationally.
Okonkwo registered his 13th singles win of the season on Sunday against No. 1 Ohio State, bouncing Martin Joyce in straight sets (6-3, 6-4).
The honor marks the first for a Hawkeye since Matt Hagan on Feb. 24, 2015, and first for an Iowa freshman since Sabastian Delgado on Feb. 26, 2004.
Okonkwo and the 46th-ranked Hawkeyes return to action Saturday when they challenge Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana, at 11 a.m. (CT).