Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

The Terrapin women's tennis team can't be blamed for not trying.

Despite struggling throughout the season and dropping both matches this past weekend, the Terps (3-15, 0-9 ACC) have shown they aren't quitters.

The latest setbacks - a 5-2 loss to No. 12 Florida State on Friday and a 6-1 loss to No. 11 Miami on Sunday - were the most recent evidence the young Terps squad has the potential to play with some of the best teams not just in the ACC but throughout the country as well.

"As the season goes on, the teams we play are better, but we're better, too," coach Martin Novak said. "We're not breaking through with wins, but we're seeing the light."

After a strong series of doubles matches against the Seminoles (15-5, 5-4), the Terps came out with great intensity Sunday, but they ultimately ran into the more talented Miami (13-4, 6-2) team.

Although the Terps couldn't match the Hurricanes' overall level of play as a team, they did pull off some individual upsets.

The biggest surprise of the match came when junior captain Michal Amir and sophomore Lisa Miller teamed up to take down the No. 15-ranked doubles pair in the nation, beating Hurricane stars Laura Vallverdu and Romy Farah 8-6.

Novak said he's not surprised with Amir and Miller's win.

"They compete as a team and are great complements," he said of the junior-sophomore combination. "They don't make mistakes, and they do the basics very well. They motivate each other and communicate strategy with each other. They also don't give up cheap points."

Then, in the singles matches, sophomore Maggie MacKeever knocked off No. 53-ranked Michaela Kissell by winning the third set tie breaker. MacKeever's win gave the Terps their singles point of the day.

Novak said he is happy with the improvement he sees in his team, especially over the last two weeks.

"We've been fighting the last four matches," he said. "We're starting to show teams that we don't have any easy matches. I'm proud of our effort and that we're not packing it in."

The two matches were the last ones at home of the year for the Terps, as they'll travel south this weekend to take on Clemson and Georgia Tech.

sports@dbk.umd.edu

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