Bulls Bounce Bucknell Bison, 6-1

Nikesh Singh Panthlia

OLEAN, NY – The University at Buffalo’s men’s tennis team improved to 3-1 with a 6-1 non-conference victory over Bucknell Saturday afternoon at the St. Bonaventure Fitness Center. It was the second match of the day for the fatigued Bison (2-2), who had dropped a 4-3 decision to St. Bonaventure earlier.

UB opened play by claiming the doubles point. The teams split the number two and three doubles matches. At number two, UB’s Mike Rockman (Toronto, Ontario/Thornlea) and Albert Alant (Pretoria, South Africa/Niskayuna (NY)) downed Bucknell’s Ryan Sandburg and John Lashnits, 8-6. Meanwhile, UB’s number three team of Fred Duncan (East Amherst, NY/Nichols) and Matt Kennedy (Mississauga, Ontario/Erindale) fell to Bucknell’s Jonathan Brenner and Daniel Bednarek, 8-4.

The doubles point was decided when UB’s top duo of Yules Hadisubroto (Jakarta, Indonesia/SMUN 21) and Nikesh Singh Panthlia (George Town, Malaysia/BMK Penang Free School) downed Ira Reibeisen and Asher Salam, 8-6. The Bulls needed to rally from a 4-1 deficit to take the match, winning seven of the final nine games.

UB made quick work of the Bison in the singles competition. Hadisubroto, at number three, was the first to complete his match, defeating Matt Pikus, 6-2, 6-3. Rockman, at number one, downed Reibeisen, 6-1, 6-4 to give UB a 3-1 lead.

The match was clinched when Singh Panthlia won a second-set tiebreaker over Salam. After winning the first set, 6-3, Singh Panthlia was forced into the tiebreaker, coming away with a 7-4 win to claim the set, 7-6, giving UB the four points needed for the victory. At number four, Alant defeated Lashnits, 6-3, 6-4.

With the match decided, the teams played the number five and six matches in eight-point pro sets with UB and Bucknell splitting the pair. At number five, Kennedy defeated Sandburg, 8-5. Meanwhile, UB’s Alejandro Galindo (Torreon, Mexico/Preparatoria Tec) fell to Benjamin Rosenstock, 8-4, in the number six match.

The Bulls travel to Hamilton to face Colgate on Sunday afternoon.

UB 6, Bucknell 1

Doubles

1 Yules Hadisubroto/Nikesh Singh Panthlia (UB) d. Ira Reibeisen/Asher Salam (BU), 8-6

2 Mike Rockman/Albert Alant (UB) d. Ryan Sandburg/John Lashnits (BU), 8-6

3 Jonathan Brenner/Daniel Bednarek (BU) d. Fred Duncan/Matt Kennedy (UB), 8-4

Order of finish: 3, 2, 1

1 Mike Rockman (UB) d. Ira Reibeisen (BU), 6-1, 6-4

2 Nikesh Singh Panthlia (UB) d. Asher Salam (BU), 6-3, 7-6 (4)

3 Yules Hadisubroto (UB) d Matt Pikus (BU), 6-2, 6-3

4 Albert Alant (UB) d. John Lashnits (BU) 6-3, 6-4

5 Matt Kennedy (UB) d. Ryan Sandburg (BU), 8-5

6 Benjamin Rosenstock (BU) d. Alejandro Galindo (UB), 8-4

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6