By Blake Dowson
[email protected]
Hawkeye junior Robin Haden, a Mississippi State transfer, is just what the Iowa men’s tennis team needs to make a run at qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.
The Hawkeye tennis program has a big vacancy in its lineup with the loss of first team All-Big Ten performer Matt Hagan to graduation.
Hagan was a nationally ranked player for the Hawkeyes last season, the first under head coach Ross Wilson.
Haden had a successful autumn for the Hawkeyes, qualifying for the round of 32 at the regionals in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and picking up a win in the Big Ten Championships. Haden is playing some of the best tennis of his career — and some of the best tennis on the team.
The 2014-15 season was all about a culture change for Iowa, with Wilson bringing in a highly touted recruiting class.
The Hawkeyes experienced one of their best seasons in recent history, climbing as high as No. 45 in the rankings.
With the fall season over with and the spring schedule already begun, the talented freshman group from a year ago is older with loads more experience, with a senior captain in Dom Patrick that is as steady as they come on and off the court.
These tennis Hawkeyes are better than they were last year. There is just that one problem of replacing Hagan.
In his two years in Starkville, Mississippi, Haden compiled a career record of 16-16 playing mostly in the No. 6 position for a Bulldog team that was ranked No. 23 at the end of last season.
Since his move to Iowa City, he has admitted he did not like the fit at Mississippi State and feels much more comfortable at Iowa.
The proof is in the pudding.
In his first tournament as a Hawkeye at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Americans, Haden won his first three matches to advance into the qualifying bracket. He played six matches overall.
He was the first Hawkeye since 2011 to advance to the qualifying round of the tournament, something Hagan never did.
Haden had more success in Fayetteville at the regionals, winning his first three matches and becoming the only Hawkeye to advance to the round of 32.
Off the court, Haden has solidified a leadership role for the Hawkeyes according to numerous players.
The transfer brings the only NCAA Tournament experience on the team, something that will be invaluable as the year progresses.
The trip to the East Coast to take on Princeton and Cornell in the Big Ten versus Ivy League Challenge will be a great chance for Haden to put his talent on display for the rest of the Big Ten to see.
If teams in the Big Ten haven’t heard about Haden yet, they will after this weekend.
Things are clicking for the junior from Danderyd, Sweden, which is a good sign for the Hawkeyes if they have want to achieve their goal of an NCAA Tournament berth.
Iowa was on the outside looking in last season, just outside of the field of 64.
In all likelihood, the Hawkeyes will not earn the automatic bid to the NCAA tourney this year, with such teams as Ohio State, Illinois, and Minnesota battling it out in the upper echelon of the conference.
Which means the Hawks will have to pass the all-important “eye test” to persuade the selection committee they are worthy of an at-large bid. A player such as Haden anchoring the middle of the lineup and passing on the NCAA experience he has may be just what the Hawkeyes need.
Follow @B_Dows4 for Iowa men’s tennis news, updates, and analysis.