March 30, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland women's tennis team returned to its winning ways, Tuesday, at the Tennis Center at College Park, defeating William & Mary, 5-2. Maryland, ranked 68 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, dug deep to come up with a big win over the No. 38-ranked Tribe. The Terps rose to 6-8 (0-3 ACC) while W&M fell to 11-12 overall (1-0 CAC).

Maryland collected easily its biggest win of the season in its defeat of William & Mary. Last season the Terrapins were routed 6-1, by the Tribe on Mar. 16. Head coach Martin Novak mixed up the lineup and found success as the Terps won all three doubles matches, as well as four of six singles matches.

Emily Marker (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Ramona But (Timisoara, Romania) teamed up for the first time this season in doubles. The pair took the Tribes' top team of Megan Muth and Amy Wei by surprise. Ranked No. 29 by the ITA, Muth and Wei fell to Marker and But, 8-6.

In the No. 2 doubles position, Chloe Chavardes (St. Nomblabreteche, France) and Jennifer Dent (Safety Harbor, Fla.) teamed up to down W&M's Lena Sherbakov and Alex de Guzman, 8-5.

Completing the doubles sweep for Maryland was Neda Mihneva (Sofia, Bulgaria)and Marianne Baker (Glenelg, Md.). The Terp tandem defeated Lingda Yang and Kristen Dunbar, 8-4.

Maryland continued to shine in singles action.

Playing in the top singles spot was But, who is currently ranked No. 60 by the ITA. She faced off against William and Mary's top-twenty player Megan Muth. But stunned Muth in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, for her tenth win of the season.

Dent faced off against Amy Wei in the No. 3 position. The pair met last March with Wei downing Dent, 6-4, 6-2. The Terp sophomore showed off her improved game, reversing last years' decision with a 7-5, 6-2, win over Wei. Dent has won her last six and now has ten wins on the season.

Baker got back her usual winning form after a rare loss last time out at Georgia Tech. She defeated W&M's Lingda Yang, 6-3, 6-3.

After being down 4-1 in the first set, Mihneva took control of her match in the No. 5 position against Alex de Guzman. The Terp freshman was in the zone, winning the match in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

William & Mary's only two points came in the Nos. 2 and 6 positions. Lena Sherbakov defeated Marker, 6-4, 7-6, in the No. 2 slot and Masha Senic (Glenmont, N.Y.) lost to Kristen Dunbar, 6-4, 7-5, in the No. 6 position.

Final Score
No. 68 Maryland 5, No. 37 William & Mary 2

Doubles
No. 1 Marker/But (Md.) def. #29 Muth/Wei, 8-6
No. 2 Chloe Chavardes/Dent (Md.) def. Sherbakov/de Guzman, 8-5
No. 3 Mihneva/Baker (Md.) def. Yang/Dunbar, 8-4

Singles
No. 1 #60 Ramona But def. #20 Megan Muth, 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 Lena Sherbakov def. #77 Emily Marker, 6-4, 7-6
No. 3 Jennifer Dent def. Amy Wei, 7-5, 6-2
No. 4 Marianne Baker def. Lingda Yang, 6-3, 6-3
No. 5 Neda Mihneva def. Alex de Guzman, 6-4, 6-2
No. 6 Kristen Dunbar def. Masha Senic, 6-4, 7-5