April 28, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The University of Maryland men's tennis team entered the 2002-2003 season with the intention of having a productive season. The Terps topped last year's performance by pushing their win column into double digits for the first time since 1992. Head coach Jim Laitta led the team to a 10-12 mark, the best record in more than ten years.
Highlighting the start of the Terps' season was sophomore David Reichsfeld (Santa Cruz, Bolivia). Reichsfeld was a consistent singles performer for the Terps, winning his first 11 matches of the regular season. His 11-match win streak was the longest of Laitta's career.
Leading the Terps was senior co-captain Chris Chiu (Columbia, Md.). He completed the regular season with a career best 11-11 record. Against NC State this year, Chiu, who is the teams' career leader in victories, notched his first career ACC victory.
Playing in arguably one of the toughest conferences in men's tennis, the Terps struggled in the ACC, but shined in non-conference matches. Against non-conference foes, Maryland went 10-3. This season the Terrapins hosted 14 home matches, winning nine of them in their second season at the Tennis Center at College Park.
After a season-opening loss to American, the Terps rebounded and defeated Georgetown, 6-1. They then posted their first shutout of the season against Temple, before hitting the road to take on then-No. 20 Ohio State. The Terps were able win two matches before falling to the Buckeyes.
The Terps, coming off of a solid performance against Ohio State, went on to win their next three matches against Cleveland State, Drexel, and George Mason. Visiting West Virginia snapped the Terps' three-game win streak to drop the Terps' record to 5-3.
The Terps reached the middle of their season with an impressive 8-3 mark after defeating Delaware, Loyola, and Villanova. The Terps continued with a long homestand by opening ACC action against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets shut down the Terps and a streaking David Reichsfeld, handing him his first loss of the season. Although the Terrapins suffered their first ACC loss, it did not keep them from routing Coppin State, 7-0, the next week.
Maryland traveled south for spring break, facing three ACC opponents in four days. The Terps were unable to win a match against Florida State or Wake Forest. In the Terps' last match before heading home for a few days off, freshman Scott Peters won his first career ACC match against Duke's Stefan Rozycki in straight sets. No other Terrapins followed Peters' lead, and Maryland fell 6-1 to the ninth-ranked Blue Devils. Finding themselves again on the road, the Terps dropped a 7-0 decision to the Virginia Cavaliers.
The Terps had their eyes set on NC State for their first ACC victory of the season. Last season Maryland ended a long drought of ACC wins with a 4-3 defeat of the Wolfpack. They were unable to pull out a win in Raleigh, but two Terps found wins in singles action. Along with Chiu, Reichsfeld won his first ACC match of the season against the Wolfpack.
Maryland returned home to close out their regular season with three matches remaining. Mount St. Mary's fell victim to the Terps' sixth shutout of the season, as well as their fifth 7-0 victory at the Tennis Center at College Park. The Terps ended their regular season by losing their final two matches against North Carolina and Clemson.
Maryland competed as the ninth seed at the ACC Championships, falling to eventual tournament champion Duke in the first round. The Terps finished the season 10-12, winning the most matches in a season since 1992.
There is reason to be excited for the 2004 campaign, with all but two players returning and a roster full of experience. The team surpassed its own expectations this season, and looks to build on its past success with a core of solid players returning and the addition of fresh talent.
