Women's tennis hoping to end ACC losing streak

The Boston College women's tennis team joined the ACC during the 2005-06 season and went a combined 0-22 in conference play through their first two seasons.

Last season, the Eagles were able to grab their first ACC conference win ever by defeating the Terrapins.

The losing baton has been handed off to the Terps, who head into Sunday's match with the Eagles having dropped 23 straight ACC matches, dating back to when they beat the Eagles two years ago.

Entering that match, the Terps were ranked No. 33 in the country and undefeated. Since that win, Maryland has won eight of 42 matches overall.

But the Terps will be motivated from the outcome of last season's defeat. The Eagles won in a close 4-3 match where the third set of the final singles match decided the overall outcome.

Since that win, the Eagles have flown out of their nest and started the process of program building. Boston College (5-4) is currently ranked No. 68 in the country and has already notched their first ACC victory of the season by defeating Virginia Tech, 4-3.

"If you look at the recruiting, they have all five-star recruits," coach Martin Novak said. "They had great names. But they didn't have enough tradition and pride to be where they could be. The group has now grown up and are playing well."

Because of a scheduling error, the Terps (3-9, 0-2) will be headed to Chestnut Hill, Mass., for the second straight year. The Eagles are coming off a 7-0 victory against Florida Atlantic and will be playing at home for the first time in four matches.

Novak is hoping for better production from the top of his singles lineup, with Eleanor Peters and Karin Lundmark. Peters and Lundmark have a combined 3-6 record in the Terps' last three matches. The team has had great production from Maggie MacKeever, who has won her past three matches.

The Terps are coming off of a 1-1 weekend, losing most recently to Brown. Novak said his team had its most complete effort of the season against Brown and fell under tough luck.

"It was one of the first times this year that this group had what I call the zing factor," Novak said. "They played with a lot of energy and we were in a position to win, a good sign for the future."

Sunday's match will be the first of nine straight ACC matches to end the season for the Terps.

"Now we are in the deep water of the schedule," Novak said. "Are we going up there with awe? No, we respect their team. But we think the match can be won."

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