Hawk Talk Monthly — April | Fight For Iowa | Tournament Central | Match Notes (PDF) | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
THIS WEEK:
The 42nd-ranked and sixth-seeded University of Iowa men’s tennis team, winners of four consecutive matches, travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the Big Ten Tournament for its first round match against No. 11 seed Nebraska on Thursday at 2 p.m. (ET). The winner of the Iowa/Nebraska match will play third-seeded Penn State at 2 p.m. (ET) Friday in the quarterfinals. All matches will take place at the Michigan Victory Tennis Center.
LAST WEEKEND:
• The Hawkeyes improved to 17-9 overall and 6-5 in the Big Ten by defeating Michigan State Friday, 5-2, in Iowa City.
• Iowa upset No. 19 Michigan (4-1) and finished the regular season with a victory over Illinois State (6-1) on “Senior Day” in Iowa City.
NEBRASKA BREAKDOWN:
• The Cornhuskers finished the regular season 10-16 overall and 2-9 in the Big Ten, winning only one of its last eight matches. Iowa beat Nebraska in Lincoln (5-2) on March 10.
• Iowa is 12-9 all-time against Nebraska.
• Senior Toby Boyer is now tied for sixth all-time in Nebraska school history with 76 singles wins.
HAWKEYE TEAM NOTABLES:
• Iowa posted a program-best 14 home victories this season.
• The Hawkeyes are 16-2 when winning the doubles point this year.
• Iowa has not lost a match this season when winning on court six (12-0).
• Iowa is 13-1 this season when the Hawkeyes win its singles match on court one.
• Iowa earned a program best three victories over top-30 opponents in the Big Ten this season (No. 18 Minnesota, No. 19 Michigan, and No. 30 Penn State).
• Iowa has won three of its last four opening round matches at the Big Ten Tournament.
HAWKEYE INDIVIDUAL NOTABLES:
• Iowa’s wins over No. 19 Michigan and Illinois State mark the 59th team victory that Jonas Larsen had been a part of over his four-year career, which ties for fifth most in program history (1986).
• Larsen has captured 62 doubles wins in his career, which puts him in seventh all-time in school history.
• Will Davies and Oliver Okonkwo each finished the regular season with 27 wins, equaling the third most win total in a single-season in program history.
• Davies and Okonkwo are ranked 87th nationally in doubles.
• Okonkwo earned his first win over a ranked opponent last weekend (#64 M. Siimar).
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.
