Notebook: Wisconsin Invite

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s tennis team travels to Madison, Wisconsin, to compete at the Wisconsin Invite on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium.

The Hawkeyes play singles and doubles matches against Wisconsin, Nebraska and Minnesota. Singles and doubles will be played each day, with different opponents for each.

Iowa will meet Minnesota for singles followed by doubles against Wisconsin on Friday at 1 p.m. (CT).

The Hawkeyes go up against Minnesota in doubles on Saturday at 1 p.m.(CT), followed by singles against Nebraska.

On Sunday, Iowa will turn around and meet Nebraska in doubles at 12 p.m. (CT) with singles against Wisconsin to follow.

ABOUT THE EVENT
The Wisconsin Invite takes place Feb. 3-5, 2021 with all matches being played indoors. The invite will follow the hidden dual format.

ON IOWA
The Hawkeyes are coming into the invite with two tournaments under their belt, having previously competed against Purdue, Illinois and Michigan State last weekend at the Purdue Invite in West Lafayette, Indiana. Iowa also has competed against ranked teams No. 3 Texas and No. 20 Arizona State at the ITA Kickoff in Austin, Texas.

MANNIX AND NOEL SWEEP THROUGH PURDUE INVITE
Junior Samantha Mannix and freshman Alexa Noel paired up to go 3-0 at the top doubles position at the Purdue Invite on Jan. 29-31. The pair won all three matches in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. Noel also swept three matches at the top singles position at the Purdue Invite, picking up wins against Michigan State, Purdue and Illinois.

NOEL RECOGNIZED IN ITA TENNIS RANKINGS
Freshman Alexa Noel is ranked No. 97 in singles and No. 7 among the top 10 newcomers in the International Tennis Association preseason singles and newcomers rankings. Noel is 3-0 this season at the top singles spot.
Noel, a freshman from Summit, New Jersey, ended her high school career ranked No. 4 in the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Rankings, as well capturing the 2019 USTA Girls 18s National Championships doubles title. She is the third freshman in program history to appear in the ITA national rankings. Sonja Molnar reached as high as No. 75 in 2009 and Sam Mannix was ranked No. 125 in 2019. The complete 2021 ITA preseason rankings are available at wearecollegetennis.com.

WISCONSON BREAKDOWN
• Wisconsin is 1-1 this season.

NEBRASKA BREAKDOWN
• Nebraska is making its season debut.

MINNESOTA BREAKDOWN
• Minnesota is making its season debut.

FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
Fans can follow the Iowa women’s tennis team on Facebook and via Twitter @Iowa_Tennis. Results from this weekend will be available on the Iowa women’s tennis schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.