April 1, 2011
Final Stats
ATLANTA -
Welma Luus did it again, battling back from down a set to win the match, as the University of Maryland women's tennis team knocked off 11th-ranked Georgia Tech in Atlanta Friday afternoon. Luus defeated the Yellow Jacket's Sasha Krupina 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 to give the Terps the 4-3 win.
The setting may have been different, but the position was familiar for Luus who also notched the winning point for the Terps March 20 when Maryland knocked off then 11th-ranked Virginia. Against the Cavaliers, Luus dropped the first set at No. 5 singles to Virginia's Maria Fuccillo before storming back for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win. Today Luus copied the same formula, dropping the first set, before recovering for the win, this time at No. 4 singles.
Maryland (12-4, 2-4 ACC) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over Georgia Tech (10-5, 3-3 ACC) thanks in large part to the stellar play of another freshman, Jordaan Sanford. The 39th-ranked team of Sanford and junior Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar improved to 15-1 in the dual season, defeating Krupina and Elizabeth Kilborn 8-4 at No. 1 doubles to secure the doubles point. Sanford then rocked Georgia Tech's Viet Ha Ngo, ranked 86th in ITA singles, not dropping a game in her 6-0, 6-0 win.
Luus and partner Ana Belzunce grabbed the first doubles win for the Terps, defeating the Yellow Jacket's Ha Ngo and Jillian O'Neill 8-5.
But Georgia Tech responded, winning the next three points and leaving the Terps down 3-2 with two singles matches to play. Senior Julia Huschke tied the match with her 6-4, 6-3 victory over Kilborn, leaving Luus to decide it, and she once again rose to the challenge.
It was an overall win for the Terps who have often relied on the superb play of Sanchez-Quintanar. The junior saw her 14 match unbeaten streak in dual singles end today with a 7-5, 6-0 loss at the hands of No. 46 O'Neill, but did pick up the win along with Sanford in doubles.
The Terps travel to No. 12 Clemson Sunday for a noon matchup before heading back to College Park for their final home stretch. Click here to view live scoring of the match.
