MEN'S TENNIS

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ROCHESTER, NY - The University at Buffalo's men's tennis team pulled out a tough road win yesterday with a hard fought 4-3 win against the University of Rochester.

Nick Zieziula

Securing the fourth point for the Bulls was freshman sensation Nick Zieziula (Hamburg, NY/St. Francis), defeating Dan Schoenherr at the fourth singles spot, 6-1, 6-1. Other winners in the singles competition included senior Fery Kasiman (Jarkarta, Indonesia/ESI International Academy), defeating Colin Ryan at first singles, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, and Justin Brtko (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East), defeating Avinash Reddy, 6-1, 6-3, at second singles. At third singles, Randy Rocchio (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) fell to Dan Williford in a close 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-5 match. Freshman Josh Liederman (Queens, NY/Benjamin Cardozo) was defeated by Aaron Arfman at fifth singles, 6-4, 7-5. At sixth singles, Sean Kelley (Gorham, NY/Marcus Whitman) was defeated by Anton Orlin, 6-4, 6-4.

"We lost to Rochester a couple of weeks ago in a modified format," said head coach Russ Crispell. "Today, we came to prove that we could beat them in a straight up match and we did. Ours was a total team effort."

Randy Rocchio

The best match of the day was the second doubles match when Buffalo's "Rock and Roll" duo captured the critical doubles point by winning a close 7-5 tiebreaker. Zieziula and Rocchio defeated Reddy and Arfman, 9-8 (7-5). Also securing a win for the Bulls at third doubles were Liederman and Rohan Raikar (Albany, NY/Albany), who defeated Bri-an Shenker and Nithin Raikar, 8-5. At first singles, Kasiman and Brtko fell to Ryan and Williford, 8-1.

"Rochester's courts are extremely fast which has a tendency to tighten up the scores," said Crispell. "Our work in practice paid off with this hard fought victory."

The Bulls will take on MAC opponent Western Michigan at 1 pm on March 16 in Olean, NY, followed by a match with St. Bonaventure at 5 pm.