Oct. 5, 2009
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- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch (2009-10 season)
THIS WEEK
University of Iowa sophomore Sonja Molnar will compete in the ITA All-American Qualifying event. The tournament is held in Los Angeles, CA, with qualifying rounds held Oct. 6-7 and the Main Draw taking place Oct. 8-11.
ITA ALL-AMERICAN
This year’s event is hosted by the Riviera Tennis Club in Palisades, CA. The tournament features players from around the country. The qualifying round begins with 64 singles and 32 doubles, and the main draw will feature 32 players and 16 doubles. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the tournament.
IOWA HISTORY
Molnar is only the third player in Iowa history to qualify for this event. Megan Racette and Milica Veselinovic qualified in September 2006 and 2004, respectively. Molnar qualified based on her pre-season ranking (72). The sophomore holds the second highest pre-season ranking in Iowa history; Veselinovic was ranked 57th in September 2006. She finished her freshman campaign ranked 100th nationally, the highest ever for a Hawkeye freshman, and fifth highest overall.
MOLNAR RETURNS TO THE TOP
Molnar opened the season ranked 72nd in the 2009 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) preseason poll. Last year, Molnar was named Midwest Regional Women’s Rookie Player of the Year by the ITA. The Guelph, Ontario, native is the first Hawkeye women’s tennis player in school history to earn the regional honor. Molnar put together an outstanding 18-4 singles record at the No. 1 position. She went 9-2 in conference singles to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors and a spot on the all-Big Ten first team. She is the fourth women’s tennis player in school history to earn conference rookie of the year accolades and Iowa’s 12th first-team all-Big Ten selection.
HAWKEYES MAKE THE GRADE IN 2008-09
The University of Iowa women’s tennis team takes care of business, not only on the court, but in the classroom as well. Last season, five of the team’s eight student-athletes were named academic all-Big Ten for their efforts during the 2008-09 academic school year, including returning letterwinners Merel Beelen, Alexis Dorr, Kelcie Klockenga, and Lynne Poggensee-Wei.