Huskers Fall at Big Ten Tournament

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- The Nebraska men's tennis team fell short to the No. 42 Iowa Hawkeyes (18-9, 6-5 Big Ten), 4-0, in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament at the Varsity Tennis Center on Thursday afternoon.

With the loss, the 11th-seeded Huskers concluded its season with a 10-17 overall record after placing 11th in the Big Ten with a 2-9 mark. Nebraska's two B1G wins mark the team's best conference record since 2016 when the team finished the season at 4-7. 

The 6th-seeded Hawkeyes advanced to play the 3rd-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions on Friday, April 26, at 1 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET). 

In doubles competition, No. 87 Oliver Okonkwo/Will Davies got off to a strong start and never looked back, defeating senior Toby Boyer/William Gleason, 6-3, at the No. 1 spot. Jonas Larsen/Kareem Allaf then knocked off junior Chris Dean and sophomore Nortey at No. 2, also by a 6-3 margin. Junior Micah Klousia and freshman Victor Moreno Lozano were tied at 5-5 with Nikita Snezhko/Joe Tyler at No. 3 before Iowa clinched the team point.

Jason Kerst quickly overcame Chris Dean at the No. 6 spot, 6-2, 6-1, to start off singles play. Dean ended the season with a 2-16 spring mark.

Victor Moreno then fell just short to Will Davies at No. 4, 6-4, 7-6, as the Madrid, Spain, native recorded a 19-18 season overall record (11-12 Spring). 

At the No. 1 position, No. 112 Kareem Allaf defeated Toby Boyer, 7-6, 6-3, to clinch the match for the Hawkeyes. Boyer concluded his senior season with an 18-12 overall mark and 15-9 dual record. He ends his career tied for sixth on Nebraska's all-time singles victories list with 76 career wins.

Klousia and Gleason led their matches at No. 2 and No. 3 while Nortey trailed in the third set at No. 5 when the match was called.

Klousia, who's a junior eligibility-wise but is graduating from school, finished his Husker career with 36 singles wins, including a career-high 11-win overall mark this year.   

Gleason, a Lincoln native, closed out a stellar freshman year with a 12-9 spring record, including a 6-4 mark in the Big Ten -- that's the best conference finish by a Husker since three-time All-Big Ten Dusty Boyer went 7-2 in his senior year. 

Nortey capped off his season at 11-15 overall and 9-13 in the spring.

Results

Singles

1. Kareem Allaf (UI) def. Toby Boyer (UN) 7-6 (5), 6-3

2. Oliver Okonkwo (UI) vs. Micah Klousia (UN) 6-7 (6), 6-6, unfinished

3. Jonas Larsen (UI) vs. Will Gleason (UN) 6-4, 4-6, 1-4, unfinished

4. Will Davies (UI) def. Victor Moreno (UN) 6-4, 7-5

5. Joe Tyler (UI) vs. Isaac Nortey (UN) 6-4, 4-6, 2-1, unfinished

6. Jason Kerst (UI) def. Chris Dean (UN) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles

1. No. 87 Will Davies/Oliver Okonkwo (UI) def. Toby Boyer/Will Gleason (UN) 6-3

2. Kareem Allaf/Jonas Larsen (UI) def. Chris Dean/Isaac Nortey (UN) 6-3

3. Nikita Snezhko/Joe Tyler (UI) vs. Micah Klousia/Victor Moreno (UN) 5-5, unfinished

Match Notes

Order of Completion: Doubles 1-2, Singles 6-4-1

Records: Iowa 18-9, Nebraska 10-17