Feb. 6, 2004

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Unlike Maryland's two previous matches, the Terps failed to clinch the doubles point in their match-up against the No. 34-ranked Michigan. In singles matches, Maryland only managed to claim two victories on the singles side. Women's tennis now falls to 0-3 after a 5-2 loss at Michigan's Varsity Tennis Center.

Sophomore Ramona But (Timisoara, Romania) and Neda Mihneva were the only Terp tandem to take a win off of Michigan. The duo defeated Big Blue's Elizabeth Exon and Kavitha Tipirneni, 8-3. But and Mihneva are now a perfect 3-0 on the season.

Michigan's Kim Plaushines and Debra Streifler overpowered senior Chloe Chavardes (St. Noblabreteche, France) and freshman Brooke Rogers (Reisterstown, Md.), 8-2.

Maryland's Marianne Baker (Glenelg, Md.) and Emily Marker (Ann Arbor, Mich.) dropped their first doubles match of the season to U-M's No. 47-ranked doubles duo of Michelle DaCosta and Kara Delicata. The match was close but ended with the Terps falling 8-6 and Michigan going up 1-0 on the Terps.

In singles action, the Terps scored two wins off of the Wolverines.

Marker, ranked No. 44 by the ITA, faced off against No. 37- ranked Michelle DaCosta. DaCosta came up big in her match against Marker, winning in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0.

Ramona But who earned a No. 58 ranking by the ITA this spring, improved to 2-1 on the season with her close 6-4, 6-4 win over Elizabeth Exon.

Playing in the No. 3 spot for the Terps was freshman Marianne Baker. Baker took the first set from Kavitha Tipirneni, 6-3, however Tipirneni did not go quietly. She fought back, taking the next two sets from Baker, 6-4, 6-4.

Transfer Neda Mihneva made her first appearance in the singles line-up for the Terps. She faced off against Wolverine Chrissie Nolan in the No. 4 singles spot. Mihneva lost to Nolan, 4-6, 2-6.

Like fellow freshman Baker, Masha Senic pushed her match to three sets. After dropping the first set to Leanne Rutherford 3-6, Senic fought her way back into match, forcing a tie-break and winning the second set 6-7. Senic couldn't hold on, loosing the third set to Rutherford, 2-6.

Rounding out the Terp lineup was sophomore Jennifer Dent (Safety Harbor, Fla.). Besides But, Dent was the only Terp to claim a singles victory from the Wolverines. Kara Delicata took the first set from Dent, 6-2. However Dent took the second set and with it went the momentum. Dent broke Delicata's stride after winning the second set 7-5, and went on to win the match with a 6-3 win in the third.

Maryland's women will hit the court early Saturday morning to face off against South Carolina at U-M's Varsity Tennis Center. Match time is slated for 11 a.m.

Final Results

#34 Michigan 5, #75 Maryland 2

Singles
No. 1 -- Michelle DaCosta (U-M) d. Emily Marker, 6-3, 6-0
No. 2 -- Ramona But (Maryland) d. Elizabeth Exon, 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 -- Kavitha Tipirneni (U-M) d. Marianne Baker, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
No. 4 -- Chrissie Nolan (U-M) d. Neda Mihneva, 6-4, 6-2
No. 5 -- Leanne Rutherford (U-M) d. Masha Senic, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2
No. 6 -- Jennifer Dent (Maryland) d. Kara Delicata, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3

Doubles
No. 1 -- DaCosta/Delicata (U-M) d. Marker/Baker, 8-6
No. 2 -- But/Mihneva (Maryland) d. Exon/Tipirneni, 8-3
No. 3 -- Kim Plaushines/Debra Streifler (U-M) d. Chavardes/Rogers, 8-2