Men's Tennis Tripped by Big Red

Mike Rockman scores lone victory in UB's 5-1 loss to Cornell

Mike Rockman

WILLIAMSVILLE, NY – The University at Buffalo's men's tennis team completed its second match of the day late Friday evening with a 5-1 loss to Cornell, ranked 74th by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. UB dropped a 7-0 match in its Mid-American Conference opener to Western Michigan, ranked 70th, earlier in the day. Due to time constraints and Cornell's travel schedule, the six singles matches were played to determine a winner. Doubles matches were not contested.

The lone victory for the Bulls (3-4 overall) was at number two as junior Mike Rockman (Toronto, Ontario/Thornlea) defeated Cornell's Joshua Goldstein, 6-2, 6-4. Rockman improved to 12-7 in singles play for the season to lead the Bulls in victories this season.

The remainder of the matches went to Cornell (6-4 overall), although two matches went the full three sets and another needed a second-set tiebreaker to determine a winner. In the number one match, Cornell's Kyle Doppelt defeated UB sophomore Nikesh Singh Panthlia (George Town, Malaysia/BMK Penang Free School), 6-4, 7-6 (5). At number three, UB's Matt Kennedy (Mississauga, Ontario/Erindale) and Cornell's Rory Heggie went three sets before Kennedy bowed, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. In the number six match, freshman Fred Duncan (East Amherst, NY/Nichols) won the first set over Peter Kung, 7-5, but was unable to put away his Cornell opponent, falling by identical 6-1 scores in the second and third sets.

At number four, UB's Yules Hadisubroto (Jakarta, Indonesia/SMUN 21) lost to Tongle Yu, 6-3, 6-2, while Albert Alant (Pretoria, South Africa/Niskayuna (NY)) dropped a 6-3, 6-1 decision to Charn Bak at number five.

The Bulls host Duquesne on March 11 at 6:00 pm in their next action.

Cornell 5, Buffalo 1

Singles

1 Kyle Doppelt (CU) d. Nikesh Singh Panthlia (UB), 6-4, 7-6 (5)

2 Mike Rockman (UB) d. Joshua Goldstein (CU), 6-2, 6-4

3 Rory Heggie (CU) d. Matt Kennedy (UB), 6-4, 5-7, 6-3

4 Tongle Yu (CU) d. Yules Hadisubroto (UB), 6-3, 6-2

5 Charn Bak (CU) d. Albert Alant (UB), 6-3, 6-1

6 Peter Kung (CU) d. Fred Duncan (UB), 5-7, 6-1, 6-1

Doubles was not played due to time constraints

02/24/2006