Feb. 15, 2012
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THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s tennis team plays its first road matches of the season this weekend. The Hawkeyes will face a pair of Big 12 teams from the state of Oklahoma, as they play Oklahoma (4-4) in Norman on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT) and Oklahoma State (3-1) in Stillwater on Sunday at noon (CT). Live scoring will be available on the women’s tennis schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.
OUT OF THE GATES FAST
The Hawkeyes are off to a 3-0 start, the best start during head coach Katie Dougherty’s three year tenure. Iowa last started a season 3-0 in 2009, when the team started 8-0. Iowa began 2010, Dougherty’s first season, 2-1. The Hawkeyes started 1-2 in 2011.
PERFECT AT THE TOP
The top half of the Iowa singles lineup has combined to post a 9-0 record this season. Sonja Molnar (No. 1), Shelby Talcott (No. 2) and Morven McCulloch (No. 3) all own 3-0 singles records. Molnar and Talcott have won each of their matches in straight sets.
UNDEFEATED IN DOUBLES
The Hawkeyes are a perfect 9-0 in doubles this season. Two pairs own 3-0 records. Senior Sonja Molnar and freshman Shelby Talcott have dominated the top spot, as they have won by scores of 8-1, 8-1 and 8-2 at the No. 1 position. Freshmen Ellen Silver and Katie Zordani have won their matches at the No. 3 spot, 8-3, 8-4, 8-3.
DOUBLES STREAK MOVES TO 20
Iowa swept the doubles point in matches against Illinois Chicago (Feb. 10) and Iowa State (Feb. 12) to extend its winning streak to 20 duals when winning all three doubles matches.
ITA RANKS MOLNAR
Senior Sonja Molnar was ranked No. 91 player by the ITA on Jan. 3. The Guelph, Ontario, native was one of 11 Big Ten athletes to appear in the poll. Molnar was tabbed No. 65 in the ITA preseason poll after finishing her junior season ranked No. 95 nationally.
SERIES HISTORIES
The Hawkeyes and Oklahoma have met once in the history of the two programs. The Sooners won the match, 5-4, in 1981. Iowa is 1-1 all-time against Oklahoma State. The Hawkeyes last faced Cowboys on March 6, 1993. Iowa won, 5-2.
OPPONENTS IN THE RANKINGS
Oklahoma and Oklahoma State both boast a nationally ranked doubles duo. The Sooners’ Marie-Pier Huet and Whitney Ritchie were tabbed No. 22, while the Cowboys’ Kanyapat Narattana and Malika Rose are ranked No. 32 by the ITA on Jan. 3. Huet and Ritchie are 6-2 this season. Kanyapat and Rose are 1-1.
HAWKEYES AWAY FROM HOME
Iowa is 9-12 away from the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex under head coach Katie Dougherty. The Hawkeyes were 3-10 on the road in 2011 after posting a 7-2 mark in 2010.
IOWA VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
Iowa will face a ranked opponent for the first time this season when they face Oklahoma on Feb. 10. The Sooners were ranked No. 31 in the ITA’s Feb. 2 poll.