Terps Continue B1G Slate with Pair of Matches
3/27/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The Maryland women's tennis team (7-7, 1-2 B1G) will continue conference play this weekend, hosting Northwestern on Friday before traveling to Illinois for a Sunday showdown in Champaign, Illinois.
Live stats feeds will be provided here and live stream can be found here. Updates will also be provided on the Maryland tennis Twitter.
LAST TIME OUT
Maryland shutout Rutgers last weekend, beating the Scarlet Knights, 7-0. Junior Millie Stretton continued to dominate, picking up a win in both doubles and singles.
The Terps were strong in singles play, with each of Maryland's six players winning their respective matches in straight sets. Sophomore Saya Usui put the exclamation point on the afternoon, winning the final set of the match by a 6-0 margin.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Northwestern comes to College Park with an 11-4 record on the year, including a perfect 4-0 mark in Big Ten play. They are currently the ninth-best team in the ITA Rankings.
The Wildcats last match came against No. 28 Baylor, where they lost, 5-2. They have won eight of their last nine matches.
Three 'Cats are currently ranked in the ITA singles rankings, headlined by Erin Larner and Maddie Lipp, who are ranked 50th and 51st respectively. Lee Or is also ranked, coming in at 92nd.
Larner and Lipp also get it done in the doubles court, currently ranked 4th in the country by the ITA. Northwestern's pair of Orr and Alex Chatt are currently ranked No. 22 as well.
SCOUTING THE ILLINI
No. 11 Illinois will welcome the Terrapins to Champaign, Illinois, after traveling to Rutgers for a Friday matinee. The Illini have posted a 14-2 record to start their season, with a 3-1 conference record. Their lone conference loss came by a 4-3 decision to in-state rival Northwestern.
The Illini's lone ranked singles player is Asuka Kawai, who is currently ranked No. 90 by the ITA. Kawai has a 7-4 dual match record, with a 5-4 mark in the top singles position in Illinois' lineup.
Daniela Novak and Alexandra Belaya are ranked in the ITA doubles rankings, coming in 59th. The two are 13-2 on the season, including a 5-0 record at first doubles, and an 8-2 record at second doubles. They have also won six matches in a row coming into the weekend.
DOUBLES DOMINANCE
Maryland has dominated in doubles action this spring, winning the doubles point in 10 of their 14 matches this season. The Terps top doubles pairing of Eva Alexandrova and Millie Stretton have had a solid start to the year, posting a 10-2 record in the No. 1 doubles position.
Arnelle Sullivan and Saya Usui have also impressed, earning a 6-3 record that includes a 6-0 victory in Maryland's win over Marshall.
NO STOPPING STRETTON
Kansas State transfer Millie Stretton has thrived in the early stages of Maryland's spring season.
The junior owns a 10-1 singles record in the third singles position to go along with a 10-2 doubles line while playing with partner Eva Alexandrova in the top spot of Maryland's lineup.
FRESHMEN FEATURE
Maryland's two freshmen Eva Alexandrova and Zoe Kulkarni have been successful in bookending Maryland's singles lineup this season.
Playing at the top two spots of Maryland's singles lineup, Alexandrova has seven wins on the season, including three-straight wins to close out non-conference play. Alexandrova also has found success in doubles, starting the season with a 10-2 record at the top doubles position.
Kulkarni has anchored Maryland's singles lineup, claiming six wins in the fifth and sixth spots of the rotation. She has a 7-6 record on the year and earned her first-career Big Ten win in Maryland's victory over Rutgers.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
Maryland has found success on its home court this season, winners of five of their first six home matches this season.
The Terps have won 14 of their last 17 home matches dating back to last season.
SUPER PANOVA
After guiding Maryland to its best season in program history, head coach Daria Panova was named the 2017 Wilson/ITA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.
She coached Maryland's doubles duo of Kristina Hovsepyan and Alexandra Stanova to the ITA National Indoor Tournament after the two were victorious at ITA Atlantic Regionals.
Panova earned her 50th career victory at Maryland last season after the Terrapins topped Minnesota.
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
Maryland's 2018 roster features student-athletes from six countries outside of the United States.
The Terps currently have representatives from Belarus, Israel, Japan, Russia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
UP NEXT
Maryland will host a pair of conference foes next weekend when Iowa and Nebraska come to College Park. The Terps will host Iowa on Saturday, Apr. 7, and then will welcome the Huskers to College Park on Sunday, Apr. 8.
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