Men's Tennis Rallies for Victory Over Denison

Nikesh Singh Panthlia

HILTON HEAD, SC – The University at Buffalo men’s tennis team pulled out five singles victories to rally past Denison, 5-1, in a rain-shortened match in Hilton Head, SC. UB improved to 8-4 in dual match play with the victory.

The Bulls were swept in the doubles matches. The number one team of Mike Rockman (Toronto, Ontario/Thornlea) and Albert Alant (Pretoria, South Africa/Niskayuna (NY)) fell to Randy Lofgren and Kevin Newman, 8-4. UB’s second team of Joe Popielarczyk (Buffalo, NY/McKinley) and Yules Hadisubroto (Jakarta, Indonesia/SMUN 21) dropped an 8-4 decision to Eric Messick and Jordan Buehler. Matt Kennedy (Mississauga, Ontario/Erindale) and Mike Zappone (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) formed the number three team as they fell to James Davis and Jason Arenstein, 8-6.

UB rallied to take five singles matches and led in the sixth before the rain, which had suspended play twice, stopped play for good, but not until after the Bulls had clinched the match.

Nikesh Singh Panthlia (George Town, Malaysia/BMK Penang Free School) clinched the match for the Bulls at the number one slot, but needed three sets to defeat Denison’s Buehler. Singh Panthlia won the opening set, 6-1, but dropped the second in 7-4 tiebreaker. Singh Panthlia won the final set by a 6-3 score to give UB their fourth team point and clinch the match.

In other singles results, Hadisubroto defeated Vogelgesang, 7-6 (2), 6-4, in the number two match. At number three, Alant knocked off Lofgren, 6-2, 6-1. Number four Octavian Stane (Toronto, Ontario/Leaside) defeated Davis, 6-3, 6-4. At number five, Kennedy downed Messick, 6-2, 6-4. In the number six match, UB’s Alejandro Galindo (Torreon, Mexico/Preparatoria Tec) led Newman by a set and was on serve in the second set before the rain stopped play.

1 Randy Lofgren/Kevin Newman (D) d. Mike Rockman/Albert Alant (UB), 8-4

2 Eric Messick/Jordan Buehler (D) d. Joe Popielarczyk/Yules Hadisubroto (UB), 8-4

3 James Davis/Jason Arenstein (D) d. Matt Kennedy/Mike Zappone (UB), 8-6

Order of finish 3 2 1

1 Nikesh Singh Panthlia (UB) d. Jordan Buehler (D), 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3

2 Yules Hadisubroto (UB) d. Jimmy Vogelgesang (D), 7-6 (2), 6-4

3 Albert Alant (UB) d. Randy Lofgren (D), 6-2, 6-1

4 Octavian Stane (UB) d. James Davis (D), 6-3, 6-4

5 Matt Kennedy (UB) d. Eric Messick (D), 6-2, 6-4

6 Alejandro Galindo (UB) led Kevin Newman (D), 6-2, 3-4 (DNF, rain)

Order of finish: 3 4 2 1 5