University of Iowa Athletics

Sonja Molnar

Height 5-5
Class Fr.
Hometown Guelph, Canada
High School Centennial C.V.I.
Sonja Molnar - Women's Tennis - University of Iowa Athletics

Spring 2012 — competed at the No. 1 singles position… unanimous first team All-Big Ten selection… selected as the team’s Most Valuable Player… became the third player in program history to earn all-conference honors four times, joining Toni Neykova and Laura Dvorak… defeated Natalia Pintusava of Minnesota on April 26 to earn the 100th singles win of her career, joining Milica Veselnovic (113 career wins) and Laura Dvorak (102 wins) as the only student-athletes in program history with 100 career wins… named an alternate the NCAA women’s tennis singles tournament… finished the season ranked No. 66 nationally and No. 4 in the Central Region by the ITA… posted a 16-6 dual record, including a 6-4 Big Ten mark… ended the season with a 27-8 overall record… defeated four nationally ranked opponents, including 11th-ranked Emina Bektas of Michigan… Bektas was the highest-ranked opponent Molnar had ever beaten… named Big Ten Player of the Week on April 17… went 8-13 at the No. 1 doubles spot with four different partners… opened season 3-0 at the top spot while teamed with Shelby Talcott… posted 0-2 record at the No. 2 position while teamed with Christina Harazin… Academic all-Big Ten… letterwinner.

Fall 2011 — ranked No. 65 in the ITA preseason singles poll… Competed in three tournaments… posted an 11-2 record, the third straight fall she posted 11 fall singles wins… 10 of her 11 wins came in straight sets… went 3-2 against opponents ranked in the ITA preseason singles poll, topping No. 67 Rachael White (Illinois), No. 119 Madeleine Geibert and No. 122 Anastasia Erofeeva… went 4-0 at Gopher Invitational, winning the Mauer Flight Singles bracket… selected to compete in the ITA All-American Championships… posted a 2-1 record… advanced to the singles final of the ITA Central Regional Championships after posting a 5-1 record… believed to be the first Hawkeye in program history to advance to regional singles final… teamed with Shelby Talcott in doubles, recording a 6-1 mark… pair went 4-0 at the Gopher Invitational to win the Koivu Doubles Flight bracket.

Spring 2011 — competed at No. 1 position… unanimous first team all-Big Ten selection, becoming the fourth player in school history to be named all-Big Ten three times… finished the season ranked No. 96 nationally and No. 4 in the Central Region by the ITA… posted a 16-6 dual match record to finish the season with a 27-11 overall record… recorded 7-3 mark during Big Ten play…topped three nationally ranked opponents during dual match play… defeated No. 83 Natallia Pintusava (Minnesota) at 2011 Big Ten Conference Women’s Tennis Tournament in Iowa’s only postseason match… named Big Ten Player of the Week on March 22… competed at No. 1 doubles spot with Jessica Young… posted a 13-7 record that included a 6-3 record in conference play… reached as high as No. 24 in ITA doubles poll after beginning the season unranked… ended the season ranked No. 43 in the national rankings and No. 3 in the Central Region… received one of 24 at-large bids in doubles to the 2011 NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships … also competed with Lynne Poggensee-Wei in doubles, going 1-1… Academic all-Big Ten… letterwinner

Fall 2010 — Competed in three tournaments… recorded 10-4 overall record in singles… ranked 39th by ITA in pre-season… Platinum Flight champion at UNI Invite… advanced to main draw at ITA All-American Invitational… advanced to quarterfinals at ITA Central Regional… her and teammate Lynne Poggensee-Wei entered season ranked 35th in doubles by the ITA… posted 6-1 record in doubles while playing with Poggensee-Wei… duo won Platinum Flight bracket at UNI Invite.

Spring 2010 — Competed as the number one singles player… remained in the national rankings throughout the season, ending at 55th nationally and No. 3 in the Central Region… recorded a 17-4 record in singles dual play… posted a 7-3 Big Ten record… all-Big Ten selection… earned a 2-0 record in post-season play, including a win at the No. 1 singles position in the NCAA tournament… ended the year with a 28-9 overall record in singles play… competed with Lynne Poggensee-Wei in the beginning of the season and put together a 5-2 doubles record… teamed with Merel Beelen to be one of the most successful doubles teams in Iowa program history… the duo put together a 13-1 record in dual action and went 9-1 in Big Ten play… reached as high as 13th in the national rankings and ended the season ranked No. 1 in the Central Region… earned an at-large bid to the NCAA doubles tournament… Academic all-Big Ten… letterwinner.

Fall 2009 — Competed in four tournaments including the ITA all-American Qualifying… ranked 65th nationally by the ITA, the highest an Iowa player has been ranked since 2006 when Milica Veselinovic was ranked 57th… posted a 9-5 singles record… went 6-1 in doubles action with Merel Beelen and Lynne Poggensee-Wei.

Spring 2009 — Named Big Ten Freshman of the Year… selected to all-Big Ten team… named ITA Midwest Region Rookie of the Year… ranked as high as 75 in national poll for spring season… recorded a 18-4 singles mark in dual match play… went 9-2 in Big Ten singles competition… played consistently at the No. 1 singles position… recorded a 5-9 No. 1 doubles record with Jessica Young, going 4-6 In Big Ten matches… posted a 4-1 No. 1 doubles record with Alexis Dorr, and went 1-0 with Lynne Poggensee-Wei… had an eight match win streak during season… letterwinner.

Tennis Achievements — Summer 2008 National under 18 singles champion and doubles finalist… placed second in doubles and third in singles at spring 2008 under 18 National Championships… 2008 ITA Summer Circuit Champion… Winter 2008 under 18 provincial champion in singles and doubles… coached by Harry Greenan… graduated with honors.

Personal — Born April 29, 1990… daughter of Monica Timmerman… her brother Eric played tennis at the University of Alabama, University of Colorado and Georgia Tech… interdepartmental studies major.

Season (Singles) #1 Big Ten Dual Tourn. Overall Pct.
2008-09 18-4 9-2 18-4 18-4 .818
2009-10 17-4 8-3 17-4 11-5 28-9 .757
2010-11 16-6 7-3 16-6 11-5 27-11 .711
2011-12 16-6 6-4 16-6 11-2 27-8 .771
Career 67-20 30-12 67-20 33-12 100-32 .756
Season (Doubles) #1 #2 Big Ten Dual Tourn. Overall Pct.
2008-09 10-10 4-6 10-10 10-10 .500
2009-10 18-3 9-2 18-3 7-4 25-7 .781
2010-11 14-7 6-4 14-7 6-4 20-11 .645
2011-12 8-13 0-2 3-8 8-15 6-1 14-16 .467
Career 50-33 0-2 22-20 50-35 19-9 69-44 .611