Kulkarni, Stretton Lift Terps Over Hoyas

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Senior Millie Stretton and sophomore Zoe Kulkarni each picked up a pair of wins to lead the Maryland women's tennis team (1-1, 0-0 B1G) past the Georgetown Hoyas (1-3, 0-2 Big East), 4-3, on Thursday.

Both earned a win in doubles and singles, with Kulkarni's singles triumph clinching the match for the Terrapins.

Maryland got out to a strong start after it clinched the doubles point with a pair of wins. Kulkarni and redshirt sophomore Amber Policare put the Terps in front, winning 6-1 at third doubles. Stretton and partner Anastasiia Gevel then sealed the deal for Maryland, picking up a 6-1 win of their own at the second doubles to give the Terrapins the first point of the match.

The two sides went back and forth when singles play began, with Stretton putting the first point on the board following a dominant 6-2, 6-1, win at third singles. The Hoyas quickly were able to equalize, winning in straight sets at second and fourth singles to tie the match at two.

Maryland regained the lead behind an impressive victory from sophomore Eva Alexandrova at the top singles position. The Moscow, Russia native won 6-4, 6-2, over Georgetown's Sofie Moenster to put Maryland within a point of winning the match.

However, Georgetown tied things up again with a win at fifth singles from Anna Short. Policare nearly forced a third set in the contest, falling 7-6 (8) in the second.

The match then came down to sixth singles, where Kulkarni met Georgetown's Cecilia Lynham. Lynham took the opening set 7-5, but Kulkarni responded emphatically with a 6-0 win in the second. With the winner of the third set taking the match for their team, Kulkarni broke serve twice en route to a 6-2 win that put Maryland on top.

It was the first clinch of Kularni's collegiate career. The sophomore is coming off a freshman campaign that saw her tally an impressive 11 wins between the fifth and sixth singles positions.

Maryland will be back in action on Saturday, hosting local foe George Washington at the JTCC. Opening serve is slated for noon.

For full results from Maryland's victory over Georgetown, please see below.

-TERPS-

Maryland 4, Georgetown 3

DOUBLES
1. Eva Alexandrova/Katsiaryna Yemelyanenka (MD) vs. Nakagawa/Goodson (GU), 3-2 UF
2. Millie Stretton/Anastasiia Gevel (MD) def. Moenster/De Santis (GU), 6-1
3. Amber Policare/Zoe Kulkarni (MD) def. Repella/Murphy (GU), 6-1

SINGLES
1. Eva Alexandrova def. Moenster (GU), 6-4, 6-2
2. Goodson (GU) def. Katsiaryna Yemelyanenka (MD), 7-5, 6-0
3. Millie Stretton (MD) def. Nakagawa (GU), 6-2, 6-1
4. De Santis (GU) def. Anastasiia Gevel (MD), 6-0, 6-4
5. Short (GU) def. Amber Policare (MD), 6-2, 7-6(8)
6. Zoe Kulkarni (MD) def. Lynham (GU), 5-7, 6-0, 6-2

Order of Finish:
Doubles: (3, 2)
Singles: (3, 4, 2, 1, 5, 6*)

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