Feb. 6, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The No.75-ranked Terrapin women's tennis team invades University of Michigan this weekend for matches against two elite tennis programs. On Friday, Feb. 6, the Terps will face host, No. 34 Michigan at 5 p.m., and will face No. 47 South Carolina, Saturday at 11 a.m. Both matches will take place at Michigan's Varsity Tennis Center.

Last Time Out For The Terps

The Terps dropped two close matches in a weekend of tennis hosted by University of Kentucky. Maryland was edged both Saturday and Sunday, 4-3, by Texas A&M and Kentucky.

Pacing the Terps was the doubles tandem of Marianne Baker (Glenelg, Md.) and Emily Marker (Ann Arbor, Mich.). The duo came away with a big upset of the Aggies No. 22-ranked tandem of Jessica Roland and Helga Vieira.

On Sunday against Kentucky, Baker and Marker improved to 2-0 on the season with their doubles win. In both matches the Terps were the first to score, clinching the doubles point in both.

The Terps' 2004 schedule is chalk full of perenially strong teams both in the ACC and out of conference. Right off the bat, Maryland faced two highly ranked teams, No. 25 A&M and No. 15 Kentucky.

Right in the midst of the strong competition is right where the Terps want to be and this weekend's matches are no exception.

Scouting Big Blue

The Wolverines at currently ranked No. 34 in the nation and are 2-0, 0-0 Big Ten after matches against DePaul and No. 20 Notre Dame.

This is only the second meeting between the Terps and Wolverines. Last time the teams met was on May 4, 1981 in which the Terps were defeated 6-3.

Two Michigan players, freshman Elizabeth Exon and junior Michelle DaCosta have received rankings of No. 37 and No. 92 respectively, by the ITA. DaCosta is also active on the double side. DaCosta along with partner junior Leanne Rutherford, are the No. 47-ranked doubles pair in the nation.

On Jan. 29, U-M came up big against regional rival Notre Dame, 4-3. Michigan comes into Friday's contest with a two game win streak after defeating DePaul, 6-1, on Jan. 17.

A Look at South Carolina

USC is coming off of a 14-11 season last year which included Carolina making it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and the SEC Tournament.

Last time out, the Gamecocks improved to 2-0 on the young 2004 season with a 5-2 win over the Furman Paladins on Feb. 4. South Carolina is coached by Arlo Elkins who is in his 21st season at Carolina, has lead his team to a No. 47 ranking thus far this season.

Terrapin senior Emily Marker, who highlighted much of the Terps fall season with her appearances in two national tournaments as well as nearly winning Regionals, returns to her hometown this weekend. Marker, who is from Ann Arbor, returns to Michigan for the second time of this 2003-2004 season.

In the fall, Marker qualified for the National Indoors with her appearance in the regional title match. The National Indoors, which is the nation's premier collegiate indoor tennis tournament for Division I tennis players, was hosted by the University of Michigan. Marker received a national ranking of No. 44 at the start of the spring season by the ITA.

Maryland will hit the courts of Michigan's Varsity Tennis Center, Friday at 5 p.m. for their match against Michigan. Saturday's contest versus South Carolina will begin at 11 a.m.