THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s tennis team travels to Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday, Feb. 19 to compete against the Wisconsin Badgers at 4 p.m. (CT) at the Nielsen Tennis Center. The Hawkeyes continue on the road to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to face the Golden Gophers on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. at the Baseline Tennis Center. There will be no fans allowed at either meets due to COVID-19 restrictions. You can follow along through live stream or live stats, which are available on Wisconsin’s and Minnesota’s women’s tennis page.
Iowa previously competed against both teams in the Wisconsin Invite, a preseason tournament Feb. 5-7. Iowa had two double wins and three singles wins against Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes had five single wins and one doubles win against Minnesota.
ON IOWA
The Hawkeyes are coming into this week with two conference games under their belt. The Hawkeyes beat Illinois for the first time since 2014, 4-2, on Feb. 12. Iowa also put up a fight against No. 8 Northwestern on Feb. 14, losing 6-1.
NOEL EARNS BIG TEN ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Alexa Noel earned her first Big Ten weekly honor Tuesday when she was named Big Ten Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week. Noel went 4-0 for the Hawkeyes last weekend playing at the No. 1 singles and doubles position. A freshman from Summit, New Jersey, Noel went undefeated at the top spot against No. 8 Northwestern. She beat No. 57 Julie Bryne, winning a three-set tiebreak (6-4,6-7,10-5) at No. 1 singles, and teamed with Samantha Mannix to earn a 6-2 win at No. 1 doubles. Noel is currently 8-0 in singles and 7-2 in doubles this season.
MANNIX AND NOEL SWEEP CONTINUE DOUBLE SUCCESS
Junior Samantha Mannix and freshman Alexa Noel continue to be a dynamic duo winning both double matches again Illinois and No. 8 Northwestern. The pair improved to a 7-2 record this season. The two Hawkeyes captured a, 6-2, victory against Northwestern’s doubles, No. 47 Julie Bryne and Hannah McColgan on Feb. 14.
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 6-0 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.
WISCONSIN BREAKDOWN
• Wisconsin is 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
• Wisconsin leads the all-time series, 43-10.
• Last meeting, #40 Wisconsin won 4-3 in 2019 (Big Ten tournament).
• Last Iowa win: 6-1, in 2017.
MINNESOTA BREAKDOWN
• Minnesota is 0-1 overall and in conference play this season losing to Wisconsin.
• Minnesota leads the all-time series, 42-22.
• Last meeting, Minnesota won 4-1 in 2020.
• Last Iowa win: 4-2, in 2017.
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.
