THIS WEEK:
The University of Iowa men’s tennis team concludes its three-match homestand on Sunday at the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Complex. The Hawkeyes will entertain Nebraska at 3 p.m. CT. Seven of Iowa’s first nine conference matches will be contested in Iowa City. Due to the pandemic, there will be no general admission admittance.
FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE:
Fans can follow the action from every home match this season with live scoring and/or live stream via PlaySight. Click on the live links on the Iowa Men’s Tennis Schedule webpage at hawkeyesports.com.
ON IOWA:
Iowa is a veteran squad featuring seven upperclassmen and two freshmen. Kareem Allaf is in his sixth year in the program; Jason Kerst is a fifth-year senior, while Will Davies and Joe Tyler are in their fourth year at Iowa.
The Hawkeyes won their first two home matches of the season, bouncing Indiana (5-2) and Purdue (4-0) last weekend.
Tyler won all four of his matches in singles and doubles, while Kareem Allaf (one singles, two doubles) and Will Davies (two singles, one doubles) each won three matches, with their fourth decision unfinished.
NEBRASKA BREAKDOWN:
• The Cornhuskers are 0-2 overall, losing at home last weekend to Purdue (4-3) and Indiana (6-1).
• Nebraska’s roster consists of five juniors, four sophomores, and one freshman.
• Iowa is 14-9 all-time against Nebraska. The Hawkeyes have won five consecutive matches over the Cornhuskers, including winning 5-2 last year in Iowa City. Nebraska’s last victory over Iowa in 2016 in Iowa City.
DEFENDING HOME COURT:
Iowa won its first two home matches of the 2021 season last weekend. The Hawkeyes have won 16 of their last 18 matches in the HTRC, dating back to April, 2019.
HAWKEYE NOTEABLES:
• Kareem Allaf is ranked a career-best No. 39 in singles, while the doubles team of Oliver Okonkwo and Will Davies are ranked No. 17 nationally. Allaf’s preseason national ranking is believed to be the highest by a Hawkeye.
• Allaf has 153 combined wins in singles and doubles, seven victories shy of the program record set by Tyler Cleveland. Allaf has amassed 89 career singles wins, which ranks second in school history.
• Okonkwo and Davies enter their third season as doubles partners. The duo bounced three ranked opponents last season.
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 sixth season as the Mellecker Family Head Men’s Tennis Coach and seventh year with the Iowa men’s tennis program.