Coming off an emotional alumni weekend victory over N.C. State, the Virginia men's tennis team looks to make it two in a row, overall and in the ACC, when they travel to Maryland this afternoon to take on the Terrapins at 2:30 in the Tennis Center in College Park, Md.
Momentum from the amazing comeback would give the Cavaliers (10-9, 1-5 ACC) an edge on most days, but Maryland (7-7, 1-4) is coming off an even greater accomplishment - the Terrapins won their first ACC match in 10 years Sunday when they beat that same Wolfpack team, 4-3.
Maryland, who is the only school in the ACC without a scholarship player on their roster, had not won an ACC match since 1992, when they upset N.C. State. The Terrapins now look for victory over a Virginia team that was reeling until it beat the Wolfpack.
"Every match is big for us," coach Brian Boland said. "We had great play from our players [Saturday], and we need to take that effort and put it forth for the rest of the year. I am really happy with the way we have competed and battled of late and it showed off with a win."
Boland shuffled the Virginia lineup around to try and spark the Cavaliers,who had struggled against tough ACC competition in several recent matches.
Boland put No. 2 seed junior Mike Duquette and No. 5 seed senior Jonathan Chou at No. 1 doubles, and the move almost paid off, with the duo losing a close match 9-8 (6).
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The changes that did work for Boland, however, were the ones made at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Freshman No. 4 seed Jay Curtis and senior No. 3 seed Jason Romesburg teamed up to take a doubles match, with No. 1 seed Stephen Nolen pairing up with No. 6 seed Gregg Alpert to take the other doubles match.
Look for Virginia to keep those changes in the lineup, because the teams worked well together, forming a chemistry that possibly wasn't there before.
"We felt like we were in control of the match," Alpert said. "Hopefully we can use that same attitude in the matches coming up. It would be good to play well down the stretch and finish the season on a high note."
Boland hopes that same emotion will show on the courts this afternoon against Maryland.
"I could not ask for a better group of guys than I've got," Boland said. "I am really pleased with the way they focus and work. Now all we have to do is go out and execute on the tennis courts and we can expect the wins to fall where they may"
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