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31 T he University of Iowa men's tennis team had a slow start to the 2017-18 season, drop- ping five of its first six matches. It has since turned things around heading into the thick of the schedule. e Hawkeyes' early record was not indicative of the tennis the team had been playing, competing against some of the nation's best. Four straight wins set the stage for Iowa's history-making match at No. 14 Dartmouth on Feb. 24. Iowa clinched the doubles point to start the match when Jonas Larsen and Kareem Allaf bounced their 17th- ranked opponent, 7-5. "We communicate a lot and we feed off of each other during the matches," said Allaf. "We've put in a lot of time and effort in being a good doubles team and I think that is why we ex- ecute so well." Allaf kept the Hawkeyes alive in singles with a straight-set win. Josh Silverstein and Will Da- vies were two points from losing their respective matches, but Davies came back to rattle off a 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, win, giving Iowa its chance at history. "at was a huge win for us and then to run off and watch Josh was awesome," said Davies. Turning back the clock to more than a year ago, Iowa competed at Texas Tech in the 2017 ITA Kickoff Event and beat the Red Raiders, 4-3. e clinching match came from Silverstein. e senior recreated that magic against the Big Green, rally- ing from a slow start to the season at No. 1. Trailing 5-1 in the second set, Silverstein showed resiliency to win set two, 7-5, and then win 7-5 in the third set to clinch an emotional moment for the program. "e way it happened was similar to Texas Tech last year," Silverstein said. "We ac- complished something great as a team and there's no better feeling. It gives us a lot of hope moving for- ward." "It was unbelievable," said Iowa head coach Ross Wilson. "I don't think I have been a part of a match where two matches came down to the wire, point-by-point, simultaneously. Will finished and then Josh finished his next point to clinch the match. It was awesome. ere's nothing like winning a big match on the road." Iowa's win over No. 14 Dartmouth is the highest ranked opponent the Hawkeyes have ever de- feated. at win, coupled with four other victories, launched Iowa into the national rankings at No. 42 on Feb. 27. "Our guys understand what it takes to win," said Wilson. "Every day is different and they were will- ing to give it that day, all six guys." MARCH SCHEDULE March 12 vs. Texas Tech (La Jolla, Calif.) March 18 Nebraska March 23 Minnesota March 25 at Wisconsin March 31 Illinois