March 12, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland women's tennis team plays host to conference foe Florida State, Saturday, Mar. 13, at the Tennis Center at College Park. The match, which is slated to begin at noon, will mark the beginning of a grueling conference stretch for both teams. Each year the ACC is consistently among the nation's most dominating tennis conferences. This year is no exception as each conference team has received a spring ranking by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

Maryland has passed the half way mark in its regular season and had an extra week off from match play to gear up for the remainder of the season. Each of the Terps' final nine opponents have received a ranking by the ITA as of March 9. With their spring record knotted at 5-5, the Terps look to build on the experience and exposure gained in the first half of the season, while improving match-to-match in each of the remaining dual matches.

The Terrapins, who have won five out of their last six, recently received a top 50 ranking for the first time this season. Head coach Martin Novak, currently in his third season at Maryland, has guided his team to a season-high No. 50 ranking, as well boasting a roster with two highly acclaimed collegiate tennis players.

The Terp pair of Ramona But (Timisoara, Romania) and Emily Marker (Ann Arbor, Mich.) have acquired numerous accolades since joining the women's tennis team.

But, who is currently ranked No. 66 by the ITA, was an All-ACC selection last season and has enjoyed success in the top half of the Terps' lineup this season as well. She has seen equal success in singles as well as in doubles. But holds the second-highest number of spring singles victories on the team, holding onto a 7-2 mark. The sophomore is also partnered with Neda Mihneva in doubles play. The tandem are continually at the top of their game, recording a 7-2 record this spring.

Marker represented the Terps in two national championship tennis events, the Riviera All-American and National Indoors, at the beginning of the 2003-04 season. She has been in the top singles spot for the Terrapins in every match she has played in this spring.

Also receiving national recognition is Marker's choice pairing with freshman Marianne Baker in doubles. The duo recently garnered a national ranking for the first time, breaking into the top 50 with a No. 46 ranking. This spring, Baker and Marker have gone 7-3, playing all but one match in the top doubles spot.

Nevermind the fact that she's a freshman, Baker has shown no fear. The Glenelg, Md. native has taken strides this spring to improve on her impressive fall season. Along with highlighting doubles with Marker, Baker has been one of the Terps' most consistent performers in singles. She tied with sophomore Jennifer Dent with a team-high 8-2 singles record. She is a regular in the top half of the Terps lineup. Baker will put her seven-match win streak on the line Saturday in singles action against the 'Noles.

Winning seven out of her last eight, Dent has found a way to establish herself as one of the squad's rising stars. Dent has seen most of her singles action by way of the No. 4 spot and is also active on the doubles side. This spring Dent has been partnered with three different teammates, with the most success coming with partner Masha Senic. The pair have tallied three wins in their last four outings.

Last Time Out For the Terps

Maryland wasted no time on Ivy League opponent Princeton on Feb. 29. The Terps rolled through the Tigers' doubles line, sweeping all three matches. Maryland only gave up three sets on the afternoon, losing one singles match.

All of Maryland's previous matches have been a tune-up for the tough conference stretch that lies ahead.

Scouting Florida State

The No. 53 Seminoles women's tennis team comes into Saturday's match with a 10-4 record and a five dual match win streak. Familiar to one of the Terps is Florida State's Mihaela Moldovan. Senior Emily Marker faced off with Moldovan this past fall at a prestigious national championship, the Riviera All-American in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Marker defeated Moldovan, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, while on her way to the All-American's backdraw semifinals.

A Look at the ACC

All nine of the Atlantic Coast Conference's women's tennis teams have been recognized by the ITA with spring rankings. The ACC consistently is one of the most competitive conference each year. This year, two of the nation's best are found on the Terps' schedule. Maryland will battle with North Carolina and Duke, who are ranked No. 5 and 6, respectively by the ITA.

With nearly two weeks passed since the Terps last entered into dual match play, Maryland looks to start conference play on the right note with a portion of its difficult schedule behind them. Despite the barrage of ranked opponents headed towards the Terps in their final nine matches of the regular season, head coach Martin Novak and his young squad are poised to complete the second half of the 2004 regular season at the top of their game.

2004 Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Tennis Rankings

#13 Clemson University (8-2, 2-0)
#6  Duke University (7-1, 0-0)
#53 Florida State University (9-4, 0-0)
#38 Georgia Tech (7-3, 2-0)
#75 NC State (4-4, 0-2)
#50 University of Maryland,College Park  (5-5, 0-0)
#5  University of North Carolina (12-2, 0-0)
#43 University of Virginia (9-4, 0-0)
#34 Wake Forest University (7-4, 0-2)

* ITA rankings as of March 9