April 17, 2012
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior Sonja Molnar has been named Big Ten Women’s Tennis Player of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday. Molnar earned her fourth career Big Ten weekly honor after posting a 2-0 singles record at the No. 1 position against Michigan State and No. 14 Michigan last weekend.
Molnar downed Michigan State’s Olga Chernova, 6-1, 6-0, to improve to 4-0 in her career against the Spartans. Molnar capped the weekend by topping 11th-ranked Emina Bektas of Michigan, 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (11-9). The win against Bektas was Molnar’s fourth this season against a nationally-ranked opponent. Bektas is the highest-ranked dual opponent Molnar has defeated in her career.
The two victories were the 97th and 98th of Molnar’s career. With two regular season matches remaining, the Guelph, Ontario, native is two wins shy of joining Milica Veselnovic (113 career wins) and Laura Dvorak (102 wins) as the only Hawkeyes in program history to win 100 career singles matches.
Molnar also posted a win in doubles. She teamed at the No. 1 spot with freshman Morven McCulloch to defeat Michigan State’s Nicole Herzog and Michaela Silesova, 8-5.
Molnar is currently ranked No. 103 in the ITA singles poll and owns a team-best 14-5 (5-3 Big Ten) singles record during dual play.
Molnar is the first Hawkeye to be named Big Ten Women’s Tennis of Athlete of the Week since freshman Shelby Talcott earned the award on Sept. 21, 2011.
Molnar will play the final home match of her career April 20 against Wisconsin. Iowa hosts the Badgers at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex at noon (CT). The Hawkeyes close the regular season April 22 at Minnesota. Play will begin at noon (CT).