Molnar Earns First Team All-Big Ten Honor

April 26, 2012

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior Sonja Molnar was chosen first team All-Big Ten by the conference on Thursday. Molnar was one of five unanimous selections to the team.

Molnar earned All-Big Ten honors for the fourth time in her Hawkeye career. Toni Neykova (1999-2002) and Laura Dvorak (1995-1995) are the only other student-athletes in school history to earn all-conference honors four times during their career.

Molnar own a 15-6 dual record and a 6-4 Big Ten mark at the No. 1 singles position. The Guelph, Ontario native is 26-8 overall this season. She ranks third in program history with 99 career singles wins.

Fellow senior Cassandra Escobar was Iowa’s Sportsmanship Award Honoree. The award honors student-athletes who display sportsmanship and ethical behavior, are in good academic standing and demonstrate good citizenship outside of athletics

The Hawkeyes are currently competing against Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten Championships at the Varsity Tennis Center in Columbus, Ohio.

WOMEN’S TENNIS ALL-BIG TEN TEAMS

First Team All-Big Ten
Allison Falkin, Illinois
Melissa Kopinski, Illinois
Leslie Hureau, Indiana
SONJA MOLNAR, Iowa
EMINA BEKTAS, Michigan
BROOKE BOLENDER, Michigan
Natallia Pintusava, Minnesota
MARY WEATHERHOLT, Nebraska
Belinda Niu, Northwestern
KATE TURVY, Northwestern
PETRA JANUSKOVA, Penn State
Jennifer Rabot, Purdue

Second Team All-Big TenZ
Marisa Lambropoulus, Illinois
Sarah Lee, Michigan
Patricia Veresova, Nebraska
Brittany Wowchuck, Northwestern
Chelsea Utting, Penn State
Alaina Trgovich, Wisconsin

Unanimous selections in CAPS

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Athlete of the Year: Mary Weatherholt, Nebraska
Freshman of the Year: EMINA BEKTAS, Michigan
Co-Coach of the Year: Ronni Bernstein, Michigan
Co-Coach of the Year: Scott Jacobson, Nebraska

Unanimous selections in CAPS

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Melissa Kopinski, Illinois
Sophie Garre, Indiana
Cassandra Escobar, Iowa
Mimi Nguyen, Michigan
Dana Guentert, Michigan State
Alexa Palen, Minnesota
Mary Weatherholt, Nebraska
Veronica Corning, Northwestern
Tiffany Dittmer, Ohio State
Nina Sertic, Penn State
Lynda Xepoleas, Purdue
Nicky Stracar, Wisconsin