Sept. 16, 2011
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MINNEAPOLIS — The University of Iowa women’s tennis team opened its season at the Gopher Invitational on Friday. The Hawkeyes impressed in their 2011 debut, as they posted a 7-1 record in singles and a 5-2 record in doubles.
“I’m happy with the way we competed today,” said head coach Katie Dougherty. “It was a good first day for us in many ways. We got to see our freshman compete for the first time and were impressed with how they came out in singles. We need faster starts tomorrow in doubles and need to continue competing at a high level in singles.”
Four of the Iowa’s seven singles wins came courtesy of freshmen, as all four newcomers won their first match in a Hawkeye uniform. Shelby Talcott topped Wisconsin’s Alaina Trgovich, 6-2, 6-2. Ellen Silver defeated Kelly Fritz of UW-Milwaukee, 6-1, 6-0. Katie Zordani won a 6-2, 6-1 decision over Wisconsin’s Aleksandra Markovic while Morven McCulloch beat Emma Waites of Iowa State, 6-7 (2), 6-1, 1-0 (10-5).
Iowa’s three seniors also went undefeated. Sonja Molnar, ranked No. 65 in the ITA preseason poll, opened her season with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Maddy Soule of UW-Milwaukee, Ally Majercik picked up a 6-3, 6-3 win over Missouri’s Ashleigh Chiaf and Cassandra Escobar topped Chelsea Bailey of UW-Milwaukee, 6-4, 0-6, 1-0 (10-8).
In doubles, Iowa received two wins from Molnar and Silver. The duo advanced to the quarterfinals of the Koivu Doubles Flight by beating Clark/Stuhlmann of Missouri 8-1 and Cacciuttolo/Lang of Iowa State, 8-3. Silver and Majercik bounced back from a first round defeat to top Gaard/Krebsback of Gustavus, 8-4. Sophomore Christina Harazin and Zordani won their opening match against Wisconsin’s Loebel/Gruber, 8-6. Majercik rounded out the Hawkeye victories, as she teamed with Ashleigh Chiaf of Missouri to earn an 8-1 victory over Ptyzystawski/Wojtalk of Bradley.
The Hawkeyes return to the Baseline Tennis Center for the second day of action tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. (CT).
Singles
Sonja Molnar (Iowa) def. Maddy Soule (UW-Milwaukee), 6-1,6-1
Shelby Talcott (Iowa) def. Alaina Trgovich (Wisconsin), 6-2, 6-2
Ellen Silver (Iowa) def. Kelly Fritz (UW-Milwaukee), 6-1, 6-0
Sarah Lobel (Wisconsin) def. Christina Harazin (Iowa), 6-2, 6-1
Katie Zordani (Iowa) def. Aleksandra Markovic (Wisconsin), 6-2, 6-1
Ally Majercik (Iowa) def. Ashleigh Chiaf (Missouri), 6-3, 6-3
Morven McCulloch (Iowa) def. Emma Waites (Iowa State), 6-7 (2), 6-1, 1-0 (10-5)
Cassandra Escobar (Iowa) def. Chelsea Bailey (UW-Milwaukee), 6-4, 0-6, 1-0 (10-8)
Doubles
Courter/Lambert (Minnesota) def. Silver/Majercik (Iowa), 8-5
Silver/Majercik (Iowa) def. Gaard/Krebsbach (Gustavus), 8-4
Harazin/Zordani (Iowa) def. Loebel/Gruber (Wisconsin), 8-6
Palen/Wiecha (Minnesota) def. Harazin/Zordani (Iowa), 8-0
Molnar/Talcott (Iowa) def. Clark/Stuhlmann (Missouri), 8-1
Molnar/Talcott (Iowa) def. Cacciuttolo/Lang (Iowa State), 8-3
Chiaf (Missouri)/Escobar (Iowa) def. Pryzystawski/Wojtalk (Bradley), 8-1