COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The No. 44 Maryland women's tennis team (13-5, 4-4 B1G) will host Big Ten foe Rutgers (7-11, 1-7) on Saturday at noon.
LAST TIME OUT
Maryland split a weekend series against Michigan State and Michigan, picking up a win against the Spartans before falling against the No. 8 Wolverines.
Behind the strong effort of junior Ekaterina Tour, Maryland defeated Michigan State by a score of 5-2. Tour and partner Caroline Williams helped Maryland earn the doubles point, and then she helped propel the Terps to a win after winning her singles bout. Maryland also received a big win from freshman Katsiaryna Yemelyanenka, who won a three set nail biter to clinch the victory.
The Terps came out hot against No. 8 Michigan, picking up the doubles point for the 15th time this season. However, the Wolverines were able to respond in singles, and ultimately took the match by a score of 4-1.
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Rutgers comes into College Park fresh off a win against Stony Brook. The Knights downed the Seawolves in a mid-week matchup by a 6-1 final. They have struggled in conference play, picking up their lone win against Penn State.
The Terps are 2-0 against Rutgers since joining the Big Ten, and have defeated the Knights by a combined score of 14-0.
Live stats for the match will be available, and if played indoors, live stream will also be provided.
KEEPING UP WITH THE TERPS
After an extremely successful fall campaign, the Terps have not slowed down at all, starting the spring season with a 13-5 record. Maryland's 13 victories surpasses the 2015-16 season's win total.
Maryland currently ranks No. 44 in the ITAs computerized rankings, and doubles duo Ekaterina Tour and Caroline Williams are the No. 60 pair in the country.
Maryland has benefited from the strong play of its doubles pairings this season, as the Terps has earned the doubles point in 15-of-18 matches this season.
The road has been a friend to the Terps this season, and their 6-0 road start was tied for the best in program history.
The Terps' fall campaign featured five doubles championships, including one by seniors
Alexandra Stanova and Kristina Hovsepyan, who won the ITA Atlantic Regionals and advanced to ITA National Indoors in New York City. The duo has also shined this spring, with an impressive 5-0 record to start the season.
Sophomore Caroline Williams was a part of three of those doubles championships, teaming up with fellow sophomore Arnelle Sullivan to win the Bedford Cup, and then with junior Ekaterina Tour to win the Cissie Leary Invitational and the Kitty Harrison Invitational.
Maryland also had contributions from its two freshmen, Saya Usui and Katsiaryna Yemelyanenka. The two won their first collegiate doubles tournament when they took first place at the Tribe Invitational.
Maryland will come into the spring season featuring its first preseason-ranked singles player in five years. Junior Ekaterina Tour cracked the ITA Preseason Singles ranking, the first Terp to do so since Cristina Stancu in 2012. Tour was also ranked the No. 14 singles player in the Atlantic Region.
Teammates Alexandra Stanova and Kristina Hovsepyan were tabbed the No. 1 doubles duo in the Atlantic Region, and Stanova was named the No. 20 singles player in the Atlantic Region.
Be sure to keep up with the Terps on Twitter throughout the season.
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