May 13, 2011
Results |
Photo Gallery 
LIKE! Maryland Athletics on Facebook
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -
After storming its way through a surprising 2010-2011 season, the University of Maryland women's tennis team fell 4-0 to the 28th-ranked Washington Huskies Friday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Championships.
Maryland finishes the season with a mark of 13-10, and double-digit victories for the first time in five seasons. Washington (13-10) meanwhile awaits the winner of 4th-seeded North Carolina and East Tennessee State in the second round.
Led all season by All-ACC selection Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar, the Terps fought hard against the Huskies falling just short of claiming the doubles point. Sanchez-Quintanar and junior Jordan Hansbrough, playing together for the first time all season, routed UW's Adrijana Pavlovic and Vanja Radunovic 8-0. After battling back to 7-6 deficit Welma Luus and Ana Belzunce dropped to Venise Chan and Samantha Smith giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead.
Luus also battled to a third set with Smith but ultimately fell 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 clinching the match for Washington.
"Unfortunately Washington outplayed us today," said head coach Howard Joffe. "While the loss is disappointing, it would be foolish not to recognize the efforts and trajectory of this team."
Joffe, in his second year at the helm, guided Maryland to a banner season in 2011 as they finished with a perfect non-conference record, six wins over ranked opponents (including twice over the No. 11 team), and a top 25 ranking the week of March 22.
Sanchez-Quintanar became the first Terp to earn all-league honors since Marianne Baker in 2007, and the first Terp named ACC Women's Tennis Player of the Week since Michael Amir also in 2007. She garnered the accolade after helping the Terps to a win over No. 11 Virginia, their first over a top-15 opponent since a win over 12th-ranked Duke April 10, 2005. At the time Sanchez-Quintanar was 13-0 in dual doubles and 12-0 in dual singles.
The season is not over yet for Sanchez-Quintanar and freshman Jordaan Sanford. Sanchez-Quintanar earned an at-large selection to the NCAA singles competition May 25-30 at the Taube Tennis Center in Stanford, Calif. She and Sanford are slated to play in the doubles competition also held at Stanford.
