Thursday, April 29
Lincoln, NE
11 AM ET
Michigan State University
4
vs
2
Iowa
Spartans Clip Hawkeyes in Big Ten Tournament First Round, 4-2
4/29/2021 2:31:00 PM | Men's Tennis
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State men's tennis team topped Iowa, 4-2, in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday at the Dillon Tennis Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. It marked MSU's first win in the Big Ten Tournament since 2014.
Although Iowa (5-13) took the doubles point, the Spartans rallied back for four singles wins to defeat the Hawkeyes for the second time this season. MSU won in Iowa City on March 21, 4-3.
A pair of freshmen, Luke Baylis and Graydon Lair, put Michigan State on the board first with victories at No. 6 and No. 5 singles, respectively.
On the top court, redshirt sophomore Nick Williams, also playing in his first Big Ten Tournament, beat Kareem Allaf in straight sets, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, to give MSU a 3-1 advantage.
Iowa won at No. 2 singles to trim MSU's lead to 3-2, but Josh Mukherjee clinched the dual at No. 3 singles with a three-set triumph over Will Davis, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Anthony Pero was tied at one set apiece against Jason Kerst at No. 4 singles, but the match went unfinished.
"It's a great feeling, and it's good to have all of the other Big Ten teams around for the tournament, just seeing everyone competing and playing your best," said MSU men's tennis head coach Gene Orlando. "It was an up-and-down match. We could have probably won the doubles point, and then in singles, it was the same way, after the first point, it was up and down. We had some guys really play some big-time matches. Nick Williams beat an All-Big Ten player (Allaf), Josh Mukherjee won a big match, and the two freshmen (Baylis and Lair) really played well for us.
"It's something we've talked about all year, staying in every match. Everyone played together, and that's also been a theme for us, just playing for one another. I thought we were competitive in every single match."
With the victory, the Spartans (6-13) advance to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament to face No. 7 Ohio State (18-2) for the fifth time this season. The dual is set for Friday, April 30 at 11 a.m. ET in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Although Iowa (5-13) took the doubles point, the Spartans rallied back for four singles wins to defeat the Hawkeyes for the second time this season. MSU won in Iowa City on March 21, 4-3.
A pair of freshmen, Luke Baylis and Graydon Lair, put Michigan State on the board first with victories at No. 6 and No. 5 singles, respectively.
On the top court, redshirt sophomore Nick Williams, also playing in his first Big Ten Tournament, beat Kareem Allaf in straight sets, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, to give MSU a 3-1 advantage.
Iowa won at No. 2 singles to trim MSU's lead to 3-2, but Josh Mukherjee clinched the dual at No. 3 singles with a three-set triumph over Will Davis, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Anthony Pero was tied at one set apiece against Jason Kerst at No. 4 singles, but the match went unfinished.
"It's a great feeling, and it's good to have all of the other Big Ten teams around for the tournament, just seeing everyone competing and playing your best," said MSU men's tennis head coach Gene Orlando. "It was an up-and-down match. We could have probably won the doubles point, and then in singles, it was the same way, after the first point, it was up and down. We had some guys really play some big-time matches. Nick Williams beat an All-Big Ten player (Allaf), Josh Mukherjee won a big match, and the two freshmen (Baylis and Lair) really played well for us.
"It's something we've talked about all year, staying in every match. Everyone played together, and that's also been a theme for us, just playing for one another. I thought we were competitive in every single match."
With the victory, the Spartans (6-13) advance to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament to face No. 7 Ohio State (18-2) for the fifth time this season. The dual is set for Friday, April 30 at 11 a.m. ET in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2,3
#1 Singles Match
12
76
Kareem Allaf / 0 [M-IOWA]
62
#2 Singles Match
12
61
Oliver Okonkwo / 0 [M-IOWA]
76
#3 Singles Match
123
366
Will Davies / 0 [M-IOWA]
613
#4 Singles Match
123
450
Jason Kerst / 0 [M-IOWA]
67UF
#5 Singles Match
12
66
Peter Alam / 0 [M-IOWA]
44
#6 Singles Match
12
66
Nikita Snezhko / 0 [M-IOWA]
23
Order of Finish:
6,5,1,2,3
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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