PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Maryland women's tennis team swept Rutgers, 7-0, in both teams Big Ten opener on Sunday afternoon at the East Brunswick Racquet Club.

Maryland (3-6, 1-0 B1G) started the afternoon strong in doubles play. Alexandra Stanova and Kristina Hovsepyan topped Rutgers duo Gina Li and Mariam Zein,6-4. Terp pair Ekaterina Tour and Arnelle Sullivan followed up with a 6-4 win over Scarlet Knights Ksenjia Tihomirova and Chloe Lee.

Nataliya Bredikhina and Caroline Williams continued their doubles winning streak and stole the doubles point for Maryland by defeating Rutgers duo Lindsey Kayati and Farris Cunningham,6-4.

The Terps continued their sweep in Singles play, starting off with Sullivan taking down Li in a tiebreaker, 6-4, 3-6, 1(7).

Stanova claimed her second win on the season with a win over Lee, 6-3, 6-3.

Sisters, Olga and Nataliya Bredikhina extended their winning streaks to three with wins over Scarlet Knights, Lindsey Kayati 3-6,1-5 and 1(4) and Tihomirova, 3-6, 6-3 and 1(5).

Kristina Hovsepyan came up on top over Mariam Zein, 6-1, 6-0. To complete the sweep for the Terps, Cassandre Thebault defeated Cunningham, 6-4, 6-0.

After the match, Terps coach Daria Panova was very proud of the team and the maturity level of their freshmen, Sullivan and Williams. “It was great seeing different people stepping up today”, said Coach Panova, “I'm very proud of the juniors for stepping up and taking care of business”.

Maryland will return home to host West Virginia next Saturday in College Park at 12PM and continue conference play with Northwestern on Sunday at 11AM.

Doubles:

1-     Alexandra Stanova/Kristina Hovsepyan (UMD) def Gina Li/Mariam Zein (RUT) 6-4

2-     Ekaterina Tour/Arnelle Sullivan (UMD) def Ksenija Tihomirova/Chloe Lee (RUT) 6-4

3-     Nataliya Bredikhina/Caroline Williams (UMD) def Lindsey Kayati/Farris Cunningham (RUT) 6-4

Singles:

1-Arnelle Sullivan (UMD) def Gina Li (RUT) 6-4,3-6, 1(7)

2-Alexandra Stanova (UMD) def Chloe Lee (RUT) 6-3, 6-3

3-Nataliya Bredikhina (UMD) def Ksenija Tihomirova (RUT) 3-6, 6-3, 1(5)

4-Kristina Hovsepyan (UMD) def Mariam Zein (RUT) 6-1 , 6-3

5-Olga Bredikhina (UMD) def Lindsey Kayati (RUT) 3-6, 1-5, 1(4)

6-Cassandre Thebault (UMD) def Farris Cunningham (RUT) 6-4 , 6-0

-Terps-