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IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa senior Kareem Allaf and junior Will Davies were named to the All-Big Ten men’s tennis teams, it was announced Wednesday by the league office.
Allaf is the second Hawkeye in six seasons to be honored on the first team (Matt Hagan in 2015). Davies was a second-team selection and Iowa’s Big Ten Sportsmanship award recipient. The honor is presented to individuals in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Allaf and Davies are the fourth and fifth Hawkeyes in six seasons under Mellecker Family Head Men’s Tennis Coach Ross Wilson to earn all-league distinction (Hagan in 2015; Josh Silverstein in 2017; Allaf in 2019).
Allaf, who was a voted second-team All-Big Ten a year ago, is the 10th player in program history, and first since 2003, to earn multiple all-conference laurels. On Monday, the senior was honored as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Central Regional Senior Player of the Year and Most Improved Senior.
Allaf was ranked as high as No. 51 nationally this spring, registering an 11-2 singles record (10-2 at No. 1) before the season was canceled on March 12, due to concerns of coronavirus (COVID-19). He also posted a 9-4 record in doubles (7-1 at No 2). Allaf boasted a career-long nine-match unbeaten streak from Jan. 25-March 6.
Last fall, Allaf made his second straight appearance at ITA Fall National Singles Championships. He won four straight matches at ITA Central Regionals to qualify for the national event.
Allaf ascended to No. 2 all-time in Iowa history in combined singles and doubles victories (146). His 85 career singles wins and 61 career doubles victories rank second and eighth, respectively, in school history.
Davies won a team-best 13 singles matches, playing at No. 3 and No. 4, and ended the season riding a career-best 12-match winning streak (Jan. 18-March 8). He climbed as high as No. 10 nationally, a program best, in doubles with partner Oliver Okonkwo. The duo won six doubles matches at No. 1, including two against ranked opponents, prior to the season being canceled.
In the fall, Davies/Okonkwo became first Hawkeye doubles team in 20 years to qualify for the ITA Fall National Championships and the first Iowa tandem to reach the consolation finals of the tournament, which included the best win in school history over the No. 6 team from Columbia (7-5, 6-2).
Davies/Okonkwo also won four consecutive ITA Central Regionals doubles matches to become first Hawkeye duo in more than three decades to finish as doubles finalists at the ITA Central Regional Championships.
Davies currently ranks ninth in Iowa history in combined singles and doubles victories (123). His 59 career doubles wins and 64 career singles wins rank 11th and 12th, respectively, in school history.
