April 1, 2011
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech women’s tennis team returned to Atlanta riding a four match winning streak and looking to continue to build its momentum as the regular season enters its final weeks, but the 11th-ranked Yellow Jackets (10-6, 3-3 ACC) were upset 4-3 by the No. 28 Maryland Terrapins (12-4, 2-3 ACC) on Friday afternoon at the Bill Moore Tennis Center.
“I really have to give a lot of credit to Maryland today,” head coach Bryan Shelton said. “They came out on the road and fought hard the entire match to beat us. We have to learn from this and bounce back before we face Boston College on Sunday.”
Georgia Tech grabbed the early advantage in the always important doubles point with a win from its number three tandem of Lynn Blau and Caroline Lilley who defeated Maryland’s Julia Huschke and Jordan Hansbrough 8-4. However, the Terrapins would claim wins from the number one and two teams to win the doubles point.
The Terps’ pair of Welma Luus and Ana Belzunce downed Tech’s Viet Ha Ngo and Jillian O’Neill, 8-5, on court two to even the doubles score. Maryland clinched the first point of the day with an 8-4 win on court one by Christina Sanchez-Quintanar and Jordaan Sanford over the Yellow Jackets’ Sasha Krupina and Elizabeth Kilborn.
Maryland earned the first win in singles play and went up 2-0 with a 6-0, 6-0 win by Jordaan Sanford over Tech’s Viet Ha Ngo on court three. Jillian O’Neill earned the Yellow Jackets’ first point of the day with a win over the Terps’ 32nd ranked Christina Sanchez-Quintanar, 7-5, 6-0, on court one.
Lynn Blau evened the overall score for the Jackets with her 6-2, 6-0 win over the Terrapins’ Jordan Hansbrough on court six. Junior Caroline Lilley gave Tech a 3-2 lead with her 6-3, 6-3 win over Maryland’s Ana Belzunce on court two.
But the Terps would win the final two matches of the night to upset the Jackets and snap Tech’s 11-match winning streak against Maryland. Julia Huschke got the Terrapin rally started with a 6-4, 6-3 win over the Jackets’ Elizabeth Kilborn on court five.
When No. 5 singles finished making court four singles the deciding match, Tech’s Sasha Krupina and Maryland’s Welma Luus were in a third-set tiebreak. Krupina won the first set 6-1, but Luus won the second set 6-4 to force the decisive third set, which the Terrapin freshman won 6-3.
The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Sunday afternoon when the No. 39 Boston College Eagles come to Atlanta for a noon match at the Bill Moore Tennis Center. The Eagles are 7-8, 2-2 in the ACC, but are playing at No. 12 Clemson on Saturday before traveling to Atlanta.
Fans can follow Tech tennis on Twitter, @GT_WTEN, for instant updates and live scoring will be available through RamblinWreck.com.
Match Results
Maryland at Georgia Tech
April 1, 2011 in Atlanta, Ga.
#28 Maryland 4, #11 Georgia Tech 3
Singles competition:
1. #46 Jillian O’Neill (GT) def. #32 Christina Sanchez-Quintanar (MD), 7-5, 6-0
2. #89 Caroline Lilley (GT) def. Ana Belzunce (MD), 6-3, 6-3
3. Jordaan Sanford (MD) def. #86 Viet Ha Ngo (GT), 6-0, 6-0
4. Welma Luus (MD) def. Sasha Krupina (GT), 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
5. Julia Huschke (MD) def. Elizabeth Kilborn (GT), 6-4, 6-3
6. Lynn Blau (GT) def. Jordan Hansbrough (MD), 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition:
1. #39 Christina Sanchez-Quintanar/Jordaan Sanford (MD) def. Sasha Krupina/Elizabeth Kilborn (GT), 8-4
2. Welma Luus/Ana Belzunce (MD) def. Viet Ha Ngo/Jillian O’Neill (GT), 8-5
3. Lynn Blau/Caroline Lilley (GT) def. Julia Huschke/Jordan Hansbourgh (MD), 8-4
Match Notes:
Georgia Tech 10-6, 3-3 ACC; National ranking #11
Maryland 12-4, 2-3 ACC; National ranking #28
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,1,6,2,5,6)
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