Terps to Host Michigan State and Michigan
4/6/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The No. 44 Maryland women's tennis team (12-4, 3-3 B1G) returns to College Park this weekend for home matches against Michigan State and No. 8 Michigan. The matches will be the beginning of a five-match home stand to conclude the regular season.
LAST TIME OUT
Maryland split a weekend series at Penn State and No. 2 Ohio State to move its season record to 12-4. The Terps first defeated Penn State in comeback fashion, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to pick up a 4-3 win. Alexandra Stanova led the way, earning a doubles victory with Kristina Hovsepyan, and then clinching the win with a 3-6, 7-6, 6-1 triumph at first singles. To read more about the win, click here.
The Terps then fell in Columbus against an Ohio State lineup which featured six singles players in the ITAs National Rankings.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Michigan State (14-4, 4-1 B1G) will come to College Park riding a four match winning streak. The Spartans have been on fire since conference play began, and have picked up wins over Purdue, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The Terps and Spartans have only met once since Maryland joined the Big Ten. Maryland picked up a 5-2 win in last season's matchup.
The Spartans doubles duo of Emily Metcalf and Davina Nguyen are the only ranked players on the roster. The pair is No. 73 in the ITA National Rankings and are currently on a four match winning streak. They will likely play in either the first or second doubles position.
Live stream and stats for the match will be provided. Opening serve is set for 3 p.m. on Friday.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
No. 8 Michigan (13-3, 5-0 B1G) has played one of the country's toughest schedules, with five matches coming against teams in the ITAs Top 25. The Wolverines have been playing well of late and are winners of seven of their last nine matches.
Maryland and Michigan have squared off twice since the Terps joined the Big Ten, with Michigan taking both matches.
Two of Michigan's three doubles pairings are in the ITAs most recent rankings. Katie Fahey and Alex Najarian are the No. 4 doubles duo in the country, while Brienne Minor and Mira Ruder-Hook are No. 27.
The Wolverines' singles lineup also features a pair of ranked players, with Fahey and Minor coming in at No. 21 and No. 22 respectively.
Live stream and stats for the match will be provided. Opening serve is set for 11 a.m. on Sunday.
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 12-4 record. Maryland's 12 victories surpasses the 2015-16 season's win total.
Maryland currently ranks No. 44 in the ITAs computerized rankings.
Maryland has benefited from the strong play of its doubles pairings this season, as the Terps has earned the doubles point in 13-of-16 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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