March 29, 2009
IOWA CITY-
The University of Iowa women’s tennis team was defeated by the Penn State Nittany Lions in Iowa City Sunday, 4-3. This brings the Hawkeyes to 7-9 overall record and stand 2-3 in the Big Ten conference.
Hawkeye doubles duo Sonja Molnar and Jessica Young started the meet off positively for Iowa with a quick victory at the No. 1 position, going 8-2 over Monika Mical and Sarah Lotto. Lynne Poggensee-Wei and Kelcie Klockenga fell a short-time after, 8-3, in a tough match at the No. 2 position to Lauren McCarthy and Denisa Zobeideh. The doubles point lay on the shoulders of No. 3 doubles pair Alexis Dorr and Ally Majercik. The duo made a comeback near the end of the match, but ultimately lost 8-6 to Dorothy Dohanics and Leyla Morzan.
Iowa headed into singles competition down 1-0 to the Nittany Lions. Freshman Sonja Molnar kept up her momentum from doubles, and nabbed the first win at the No. 1 position, going 6-0, 6-2 over Monika Mical, to tie the meet up at 1-1. Penn State grabbed the lead again after a 6-1, 6-1 loss by Alexis Dorr in the No. 2 spot to Lauren McCarthy.
Jessica Young grabbed another Hawkeye victory, tying the meet up once again, with a win at the No. 5 position, 6-3, 6-3 over Maria Prishlyak. Kelcie Klockenga then helped the Hawkeyes pull away, 3-2, after winning a three-set match against Dorothy Dohanics 5-7, 6-3, 6-0, at the No. 4 position.
After battling against Denisa Zobeideh at the No. 3 position, Lynne Poggensee-Wei was defeated 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), allowing for Penn State to tie the meet up at 3-3.
With fellow teammates lined-up watching, Ally Majercik and Penn State’s Leyla Morzan duked it out at the No. 6 position, in a battle for the last team point. After a hard-fought three-set match, Majercik fell 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the final match of the day.
“We lost a heartbreaker today but once again we did a good job battling and leaving it on the court,” said Hawkeye Head Coach Daryl Greenan. “It was our doubles that let us down and we need to get something going there. Penn State is a tenacious team and they get all the credit for the win.”
Iowa will return to the courts Saturday April 4, traveling to Bloomington, IN to face the No. 34 Indiana Hoosiers. Competition will begin at 11 a.m. at the IU Tennis Center. The Hawkeyes will then face No. 32 Illinois April 5 at 12 p.m. at the Atkins Tennis Center in Champaign, IL.
Doubles Competition
1. Jessica Young/Sonja Molnar (Iowa) def. Monika Mical/Sarah Lotto (Penn State) 8-2
2. Lauren McCarthy/Denisa Zobeideh (Penn State) def. Lynne Poggensee-Wei/Kelcie Klockenga (Iowa) 8-3
3. Dorothy Dohanics/Leyla Morzan (Penn State) def. Alexis Dorr/Ally Majercik (Iowa) 8-6
Singles Competition
1. #92 Sonja Molnar (Iowa) def. Monika Mical (Penn State) 6-0, 6-2
2. Lauren McCarthy (Penn State) def. Alexis Dorr (Iowa) 6-1, 6-1
3. Denisa Zobeideh (Penn State) def. Lynne Poggensee-Wei (Iowa) 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
4. Kelcie Klockenga (Iowa) def. Dorothy Dohanics (Penn State) 5-7, 6-3, 6-0
5. Jessica Young (Iowa) def. Maria Prishlyak (Penn State) 6-3, 6-3
6. Leyla Morzan (Penn State) def. Ally Majercik (Iowa) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
Match Notes
Iowa 7-9, 2-3; National Ranking 63
Penn State 4-12, 1-3; Not Ranked
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,2,3) Singles (1,2,5,4,3,6)