Terps Tame the Lions, Sweep Columbia 7-0

Feb. 7, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Michal Amir and the University of Maryland women's tennis team earned their first win of the season Saturday as they downed the Columbia Lions, 7-0.

The senior co-captain Amir provided the match-clinching victory for Maryland (1-2) as she dispatched of Stephanie Zilberman in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. The win moved the team score to 4-0, sealing the match for Maryland.

The Terps struck early, taking down the doubles point behind victories at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots. The freshmen team of Jordan Hansbrough and Lauren Wolman opened doubles play with a victory for the Terps, winning 8-4, over the Columbia (1-1) pair, Nicole Stanziola and Nina Suda. The match was the first of her Terrapin career for the Maryland native Wolman.

"I am very proud of Lauren. The game ball would go to our freshmen, Jordan [Hansbrough] and Lauren [Wolman]. They really competed today", said head coach Martin Novak on the play of the two freshmen.

The veteran duo of Amir and Lisa Miller won for the second time this spring, battling past Columbia's Carling Donovan and Natasha Makarova, 8-6, clinching the doubles point for the Terps.

The Terps were edged out at No. 2 doubles as Eleanor Peters and Maggie MacKeever fell to Zilberman and Marlena Hall, 8-5.

The Terps returned to the courts for singles play and continued on the successful run started in the doubles portion.

Peters dominated her match against Makarova, winning 6-1, 6-1, while Miller earned the win over Eliza Matache, 6-4, 6-3, pushing the Terrapin lead to 3-0. Shortly, thereafter Amir would come up with the final victory needed for Maryland, finishing off the Lions.

"It is nice to get on the board," said Novak of the win. "We went on the road to play two tough teams on their soil because you want to test yourself early in the season."

With the Terps victory in hand, sophomore Karin Lundmark defeated opponent Stanziola, 5-2, ret., as an injury forced Stanziola to retire during the opening set.

MacKeever earned the victory, 7-5, 7-5, from the No. 4 position in a hard fought contest with Donovan.

Hansbrough competed for the Terps at the No. 6 position in the final match of the day. Hansbrough lost the opening set to Columbia senior Suda, 6-7(4) but with family and teammates watching she won the second set, 6-2, and the tiebreaker third set, 10-6, clinching her first career dual match victory.

The win over the Lions was the first of four consecutive home matches that the Terps will play at the Tennis Center at College Park during a two week homestand. Maryland's next match is Saturday, Feb. 14. against Richmond. Play begins at 10 a.m.

Maryland 7, Columbia 0

SINGLES

Eleanor Peters (Md.) def. Natasha Makarova (Col.), 6-1, 6-1
Michal Amir (Md.) def. Stephanie Zilberman (Col.), 6-3, 6-1
Karin Lundmark (Md.) def. Nicole Stanziola (Col.), 5-2, ret.
Maggie MacKeever (Md.) def. Carling Donovan (Col.), 7-5, 7-5
Lisa Miller (Md.) def. Eliza Matache (Col.), 6-4, 6-3
Jordan Hansbrough (Md.) def. Nina Suda (Col.), 6-7(4), 6-2, 10-6

DOUBLES
Amir/Miller (Md.) def. Donovan/Makarova (Col.), 8-6
Zilberman/Hall (Col.) def. MacKeever/Peters (Md.), 8-5
Hansbrough/Wolman (Md.) def. Suda/Stanziola (Col.), 8-4

Order of Finish:
Singles: 1,5,2,3,4,6
Doubles: 3,1,2

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