March 23, 2010
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch (2009-10 season)
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s tennis team welcomes Big Ten foes Michigan and Michigan State to Iowa City this weekend. No. 18 Iowa is set to face the Wolverines Saturday and the Spartans Sunday. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and Hawkeye fans can find live stats on www.hawkeyesports.com.
THE COMPETITION
Michigan is 11-3, with some of their biggest wins being over then No. 6 Miami and No. 5 Baylor. The Wolverines, lead by Head Coach Ronni Bernstein, are currently ranked sixth. Michigan State, coached by second year Head Coach Simone Jardim, is 6-8 this season. The Spartans are coming off of a 4-3 win over Eastern Michigan.
HEAD COACH Katie Dougherty
First-year Head Coach Katie Dougherty did not waste any time getting to work with the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s tennis team. The Wisconsin alumni has guided the Black and Gold to a top-20 national ranking. The Hawkeyes are currently ranked 18th, besting the program’s previous all-time highest ranking of 25th in the 1998-99 season. On her way to matching former head coach Cathy Ballard for the best start for a first-year head coach, Dougherty and the Hawkeyes have posted a 10-2 record with five wins over nationally ranked teams.
MOLNAR EARNS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore Sonja Molnar was named the Big Ten Conference’s Player of the Week for the second time this season. The Guelph, Ontario native is ranked 74th nationally by the ITA, and has posted numerous wins over ranked opponents. Last week’s efforts included singles victories over 34th ranked Lutfiana Budiharto and 95th ranked Alexandra Kichoutkin. Molnar is also ranked, along with teammate Merel Beelen, in doubles. The duo is 23rd in the nation and defeated 35th ranked Karaitiana/Kichoutkin of Tulsa and 22nd ranked Dalmacio/Damaschin of Wichita State.
IOWA TENNIS BLOG
Iowa tennis fans will be able to follow members of the Hawkeye tennis team as they blog about the 2010 season . The Iowa student-athletes will discuss the Hawkeyes’ upcoming matches, road trips and what it’s like being a student-athlete at the University of Iowa.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes travel to University Park, PA for a match against Penn State next Friday night. Sunday the team will be in action in Columbus, OH, taking on Ohio State. The matches are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. (CT) and 10 a.m. (CT).