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NORMAN, Okla. — The nationally-ranked University of Iowa men’s tennis team competed on Thursday at the ITA Central Regional Championships at the Headington Family Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Oklahoma.
In singles action, the Hawkeyes took the first round by storm, going a perfect 3-0 in the Round of 128. Morgan Lohan got things going for Iowa, dropping Big Ten foe Chester Wickwire of Nebraska in straight sets (6-2, 6-2). Jason Kerst followed Lohan’s lead by defeating Drake’s Finley Hall, 6-1, 7-6(5). Freshman Matt Clegg closed the day for the Hawkeyes by advancing over UMKC’s Neil O’Connor, 6-3, 6-4.
Will Davies and Oliver Okonkwo, who are the top seed and ranked No. 56 nationally, took care of business in their opening round doubles match against Barbabas Knocz and Eddy Leardini of Oral Roberts in convincing fashion, 8-4. Clegg and Nikita Snezhko picked up the other Iowa victory in doubles, 8-6, over Wichita State’s Marius Frosa and Alex Richards. The other two tandems of Kerst/Lohan and Kareem Allaf/Joe Tyler lost their Round of 32 matches.
Davies, Okonkwo, Tyler, and Allaf, who is ranked No. 69 in the country, all advanced to tomorrow’s Round of 64 via bye.
A year ago, Allaf etched his name into the Hawkeye history books by winning the ITA Central Regional Singles Championship.
Fans can follow live results and updates from @iowamenstennis on Instagram and @IowaMensTennis on Twitter.
Doubles Round of 32
Davies/Okonkwo (UI) def. Knocz/Leardini (ORU): 8-4
Lenoz/Pearson (UT) def. Kerst/Lohan (UI): 8-7(1)
Fragistas/Jankovic (UD) def. Allaf/Tyler (UI): 8-6
Clegg/Snezhko (UI) def. Frosa/Richards (WSU): 8-6
Singles Round of 128
Morgan Lohan (UI) def. Chester Wickwire (NU): 6-2, 6-2
Jason Kerst (UI) def. Finley Hall (UD): 6-1, 7-6(5)
Matt Clegg (UI) def. Neil O’Connor (UMKC): 6-3, 6-4
