May 26, 2011
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PALO ALTO, Calif. – – University of Iowa junior Sonja Molnar and senior Jessica Young fell in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Championships doubles tournament Thursday at Stanford’s Taube Family Tennis Center. Molnar and Young lost to Anouk Tigu and Claudine Paulsen of Arkansas, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
“This match was close throughout with a lot of momentum shifts,” said Head Coach Katie Dougherty. “We were up 6-5 in the second set and couldn’t capitalize. It’s a tough way for us to end the year but Jessica and Sonja did a great for us and have a lot to be proud of.”
In the first set, Molnar and Young faced an early 3-1 deficit before scoring four unanswered points to take a 5-3 lead. Not to be outdone, Tigu and Paulsen, ranked 14th by the ITA, rattled off the next two points to even the score at five apiece. Molnar and Young would once again answer an Arkansas run with a run of their own, as they recorded the final two points to secure a 7-5 victory.
The Hawkeye duo carried the momentum into the second set, as they quickly claimed a 3-1 advantage. Arkansas answered the Iowa run by scoring four unanswered points, taking a 5-3 lead. Molnar and Young would reclaim control of the set by tallying three consecutive points to seize a 6-5 lead. The Hawkeyes could not hold on the slim margin, as Tigu and Paulsen evened the score at 6-6 before winning a 7-5 tiebreaker
In the third and final set, Molnar and Young fought back from a 2-0 hole to tie the match at 2-2. The Hawkeye duo was unable to earn another point, as Tigu and Paulsen went on a 4-0 run to end the set and the match.
Molnar and Young finished the season with a 13-7 doubles record. The duo entered the doubles championships as the No. 35 tandem in the country according to the ITA.
Doubles:
Anouk Tigu/Claudine Paulsen (Arkansas) def. Sonja Molnar/Jessica Young (Iowa), 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2