Terps Bested by Bears, Lose Heartbreaker, 4-3

March 8, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Freshman Jordan Hansbrough and the Maryland women's tennis team came up just short of a stunning victory as Brown edged the Terps, 4-3. The Sunday afternoon match was decided by the day's final contest as Catherine Stewart bested Hansbrough in the winner-take-all, third set tiebreaker.

Down 3-1 in the match score, Maryland (3-9, 0-2) needed a miracle rally to win the match. Maggie MacKeever started the Terp comeback. Her win over Brown (10-2, 3-0) junior Tanja Vucetic, 6-2, 7-5, got the team score to a manageable 3-2 deficit.

Lisa Miller then added a win from No. 5 singles in a hard fought match over Julia Flanzer, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4. The team captain's 30th career victory knotted the match score heading into the last match of the afternoon.

After dropping the opening set, 6-4, Hansbrough rallied to win the second set over Stewart, 6-3. A battle between the two teams all day, it only made sense for the deciding third set to head to tiebreaker. Unfortunately for Terps, Hansbrough was bested 7-5, in the tiebreaker, giving Stewart the set, 7-6, and Brown the victory, 4-3. Hansbrough was limited in her third set after suffering an injury.

"This is what a college match is all about, momentum shifting back and forth," Head Coach Martin Novak said on the tight match. "We definitely had opportunities to win today, but I am proud of how we played."

The Bears opened play taking the doubles point, winning matches at the No. 2 and No. 1 slots. Maryland's lone doubles win came as Eleanor Peters and Hansbrough defeated Emily Ellis and Kathrin Sorokko, 8-4.

Michal Amir earned her third spring victory as she dispatched of Sara Mansur, 6-2, 6-0, allowing the later Terrapin rally to take shape.

The match versus the Bears marks the final non-conference opponent for the Terps. Maryland concludes the season with nine consecutive ACC matches, beginning Sunday, March 15, on the road at Boston College. Play against the Eagles begins at 10 a.m.

Brown 4, Maryland 3

Singles

Bianca Aboubakare (B) def. Eleanor Peters (MD), 6-1, 6-3
Cassandra Herzberg (B) def. Karin Lundmark (MD), 6-4, 7-5
Michal Amir (MD) def. Sara Mansur (B), 6-2, 6-0
Maggie MacKeever (MD) def. Tanja Vucetic (B), 6-2, 7-5
Lisa Miller (MD) def. Julia Flanzer (B), 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4
Catherine Stewart (B) def. Jordan Hansbrough (MD), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5)

Doubles
B. Aboubakare/Herzberg (B) def. Miller/MacKeever (MD), 8-5
C. Aboubakare/Mansur (B) def. Amir/Huschke (MD), 8-5
Peters/Hansbrough (MD) def. Ellis/Sorokko (B), 8-4

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

* - indicates clinching match

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