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LINCOLN, Neb. — The doubles team of Oliver Okonkwo and Joe Tyler advanced to finals Saturday morning at the Big Ten Indoor Singles and Doubles Championships held at the Dillon Tennis Center.
The Hawkeye duo defeated Seibert/Wareti from Ohio State, 8-4. In the championship, Okonkwo/Tyler pushed the other Buckeye team of Lutschaunig/Trotter in a tight match. The Ohio State duo won the title, 8-7, 6-4. Okonkwo/Tyler become the first Iowa doubles team to reach the Big Ten Indoor Championship since Matt Hagan and Dominic Patrick in 2014 (champions).
For second consecutive week, an Iowa doubles team finished as finalists in a major tournament; nationally-ranked Will Davies and Okonkwo finished runners-up at ITA Central Regionals last week.
In consolation singles action, Morgan Lohan picked up a victory over Northwestern’s Nathan Spear in straight sets (7-5, 6-1). Tyler notched two victories on Saturday, eliminating Chester Wickwire of Nebraska (6-1, 6-4) and Wisconsin’s Daniel Nuzhny in straight sets (6-4, 6-4). Okonkwo fell in his only singles match to Martim Vilela of Wisconsin, 6-3, 7-5. 6-4.
Quoting Mellecker Family Head Coach Ross Wilson
“Good effort out of Joe and Oliver to get to the finals. I know they will be disappointed they couldn’t win the match being up a break late in the set, but it was a good result.”
BIG TEN INDOOR SINGLES & DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS
Dillon Tennis Center | University of Nebraska | Lincoln, Neb.
Semifinals Doubles
Okonkwo/Tyler (UI) def. Seibert/Wareti (OSU): 8-4
Championship Doubles
Lutschaunig/Trotter (OSU) def. Okonkwo/Tyler (UI): 8-7, 6-4
Consolation Singles
Joe Tyler (UI) def. Chester Wickwire (NU): 6-1, 6-4
Joe Tyler (UI) def. Daniel Nuzhny (UW): 6-4, 6-4
Morgan Lohan (UI) def. Nathan Spear (NU): 7-5, 6-1
Martim Vilela (UW) def. Oliver Okonkwo (UI): 6-3, 7-5
Andre Saleh (NU) def. Morgan Lohan (UI): 6-2, 6-3
