Feb. 20, 2004
Season Statistics
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The University of Maryland women's tennis team travels to Virginia Commonwealth University, as the No. 75-ranked Terrapins continue with their non-conference portion of their spring schedule. The Terps (2-4, 0-0 ACC) will play Richmond on Saturday, Feb. 21, and No. 14-ranked VCU on Sunday, Feb. 22. All matches will be played at the Talheimer Tennis Center on VCU's campus in Richmond, Va.
Maryland comes into this weekend's matches with a two-match win streak. The Terps came up big on their first weekend of home spring matches at the Tennis Center at College Park. Maryland defeated No. 72 Old Dominion on Saturday, Feb. 14, 6-1 and Georgetown, Sunday, Feb. 15, 7-0.
A Look Back
On a weekend that saw the Terps loose only one match, senior Emily Marker (Ann Arbor, Mich.) took home an extra special win. Filling the No. 1 spot for the Terps, Marker matched up against a familiar opponent. Ranked No. 44 by the ITA, Marker faced ODU's Nataly Cahana. Three previous outings against No. 33-ranked Cahana left Marker winless. Marker battled for three long sets, topping Cahana, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
The weekend provided a much needed confidence builder for the Terps. With a schedule that includes 14 nationally-ranked teams, every win is crucial for the young Terrapins.
Other notable performers were sophomores Jennifer Dent (Safety Harbor, Fla.) and Ramona But (Timisoara, Romania), who improved to 5-1 and 4-1 respectively. Dent has notched four straight wins, playing in various singles positions for the Terps.
Third-year coach Martin Novak has found that success comes in pairs as well. The Terp tandem of Marker and Marianne Baker (Glenelg, Md.) have been consistent performers in the No. 1 doubles slot. The duo, whose record stands at 5-1, have won their last three match-ups.
The pairing of freshman transfer Neda Mihneva with But, has brought only positive things to the Terps doubles lineup. The duo has been very successful, notching five straight wins, playing in the Nos. 2 and 3 positions.
A Look Ahead
The Terps head into this weekend's matches with a tough stretch ahead of them. Ten out of Maryland's next 12 matches will put the Terps in the path of ranked opponents. As of Feb. 10, NC State is the only ACC team on the Terps roster that has not received a spring ranking by the ITA.
Scouting The Opponents
Richmond is coming off a 7-0 loss to No. 45-ranked University of Pennsylvania on Sat. Feb. 14. Their spring record stands at 2-4. The Spiders will take the court against the Terps, Saturday at 11 a.m.
Members of the Terps 2003-2004 squad faced off against some of the Spiders at the 2003 Maryland Invitational.
Marker defeated Richmond's Beatrice Grasu, 6-3, 6-1 for the Flight A title at the Maryland Invitational.
Sophomore Andreea Fusea (Bucharest, Romania) beat the Spiders' Emily Applegate, 6-2, 0-6, 6-2 in the Flight B singles draw.
In Flight C singles, freshman Masha Senic downed Richmond's Katie Karhohs, 6-2, 6-3, while on her way to the title match.
Baker and Marker met Megan Wolfgram and Beatrice Grasu in doubles at the Invitational, and defeated the Spider duo, 8-4.
No. 14-ranked VCU comes into Sunday's match-up with the Terrapins with 6-2 record. The Rams have dropped their last two matches, both at the hands of ranked opponents-No. 26 Notre Dame and No. 13 Clemson. Maryland clashes with VCU at 1 p.m.
