Oct. 23, 2011
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TULSA, Okla. — University of Iowa senior Sonja Molnar moved into the singles final of the ITA Central Region Championships on Sunday after beating two nationally ranked opponents in straight sets. Molnar is believed to be the first Hawkeye to advance to the final of the tournament. She will face Samantha Vickers of Tulsa on Monday at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla. Vickers was ranked No. 98 in the ITA preseason poll.
“Sonja worked very hard today for these wins,” said head coach Katie Dougherty. “The scores don’t show it, but she played two very good players and had to play great tennis to beat them. Tomorrow will be another test for her. She’s playing like the senior leader she is and outworking people.”
Molnar, the No. 2 seed, won a 6-4, 6-2 quarterfinal decision against Tulsa’s Anastasia Erofeeva. Erofeeva was ranked No. 122 in the ITA preseason poll. Molnar played Madeleine Geibert of Nebraska in the semifinals. Molnar topped Geibert, 6-1, 6-3. Geibert was ranked No. 119 in the ITA preseason poll. Molnar improved to 5-0 at the ITA Central Region Championships and 11-1 on the season. The Guelph, Ontario, native has won all five tournament matches in straight sets. Molnar was ranked No. 65 in the ITA preseason poll.
Molnar will face Vickers, the No. 4 seed, on Monday at 9 a.m. (CT). With a victory, she will earn an automatic berth into the USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championship, to be held Nov. 3-6 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
Singles:
Sonja Molnar (Iowa) def. Anastasia Erofeeva (Tulsa), 6-4, 6-2
Sonja Molnar (Iowa) def. Madeleine Geibert (Nebraska), 6-1, 6-3