Over the weekend Iowa (10-12) hosted three matches, splitting a doubleheader on Friday against Creighton (6-8) and Illinois (15-7). Then losing to Northwestern (21-2) in Sunday’s matchup.
The Hawkeyes started off weekend matchup hot by defeating the Bluejays 7-0, but could not come out with the victory against the Fighting Illini, losing 4-0.
In the doubles matchup against the Bluejays, senior Dominic Patrick and sophomore Josh Silverstein played at the No. 1 spot and delivered a convincing (6-2) win. Sophomore Jake Jacoby and freshman Jonas Larsen played at the No. 2 spot and won (6-3).
It wasn’t just the doubles side for the Hawkeyes that performed well, the singles all received wins, with only one match ending in three sets.
Among those playing in the singles was freshman Tony Leto, who played in his first match of the season. Leto won his match by the score of (6-4, 7-5). Head coach Ross Wilson commented on Leto’s performance.
“It was nice to see Tony get a win in his first dual match. I think he’s been working pretty hard this season, especially the last couple weeks. You know I think his whole mindset on tennis and his game style have completely changed this year, being a little more consistent,” Wilson said in a release.
To finish up the doubleheader on Friday, the Hawkeyes played against their first Big Ten opponent of the weekend in the No. 15 Fighting Illini.
The Hawkeyes did not fair so well in this matchup, in doubles, Hawkeye duo Robin Haden and Jonas Larsen lost 6-4 and Jake Jacoby and Josh Silverstein lost 6-2. Illinois earned the point in doubles and continued their dominance in the single rounds.
Hawkeye Lefteris Theodorou faced No. 11 Jared Hiltzik and lost 6-2, 6-2 and Haden lost to No. 57 Aron Hiltzik 6-2, 6-4.
After the Hawkeyes lost to Illinois 4-0, the team faced another tough test with No. 15 Northwestern coming to town on Sunday.
The Hawkeyes lost again by the score of 4-0, starting with losing the doubles point, when Jacoby and Larsen lost (6-3) and Dominic Patrick and Haden lost (6-3).
In singles, Haden fell to Northwestern’s No. 68 Strong Kirchheimer (21-2, 7-0). Jonas Larsen lost to Fedor Baev (6-2, 6-2).