Iowa Women's Tennis Opens 2010 Season

Jan. 19, 2010

THIS WEEK The University of Iowa women’s tennis team opens the 2010 season this weekend at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. The Hawkeyes host Notre Dame on Saturday (11 a.m.) and Eastern Michigan Sunday (10 a.m.). Results following each days’ competition can be found on hawkeyesports.com.

MOLNAR RISES IN ITA RANKINGS Sophomore Sonja Molnar is ranked 65th nationally in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s first Division I poll of 2010. Molnar ended her freshman campaign ranked 72nd nationally, the highest ever for an Iowa freshman. The Guelph, Ontario native has the highest ranking for an Iowa player since Milica Veselinovic opened the 2006 season ranked 57th.

HEAD COACH Katie Dougherty The University of Iowa Athletics Department named Katie Dougherty head coach of the women’s tennis program Nov. 19, 2009. Dougherty was formerly an assistant at Wisconsin as well as a four-year letterwinner for the Badgers. The Ellicott City, MD native also coached at Penn State and American University. Dougherty is the seventh head coach at Iowa since the program’s beginning in 1977.

DOUGHERTY ON 2010 SEASON OPENER “We have a talented group of athletes this year. Our success is going to depend on putting the pieces together, being disciplined and taking advantage of opportunities.”

THE COMPETITION Iowa faces the sixth-ranked Fighting Irish Saturday. Notre Dame is led by Kristy Frilling, ranked 30th in singles, and Kali Krisik, ranked 12th with Frilling in the doubles poll.

The Hawkeyes will face Eastern Michigan Sunday. The Eagles are coming off a 6-1 win over University of Detroit Mercy and are led by freshmen Celine Donnet and Julia Breuss.

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