BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men's tennis team dropped its second consecutive Mid-American Conference match, losing 7-0 to Ball State this weekend. The Bulls' record is now 11-3 overall and 0-2 in conference competition for the year.

Ball State, ranked as high as 50th in the nation earlier this season, swept the singles and the doubles matches for the victory.

"Despite the fact that we have not been able to put a notch in the MAC win column, the team is playing the best tennis that I've ever seen at UB," said head coach Russ Crispell. "The match scores are not indicative of the individual points. Each match, the team is improving and showing the potential and future for the program."

Senior Budi Susanto (Bali, Indonesia/Hilton Head Prep) and sophomore Fery Kasiman (Jakarta, Indonesia/Hilton Head Prep) dropped an 8-5 first-doubles match to Edgardo Rivera and Jason Pressel.

At second doubles, juniors Tim Powell (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) and Sean Kelley (Gorham, NY/Marcus Whitman) lost, 8-1, to Chris Varga and Michael Westerhoff, while at third doubles, junior captain Justin Brtko (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) and senior Dave Emihovich (Getzville, NY/Williamsville North) fell to the Cardinal's duo of Joe Gabey and Kevin Burnett, 8-3. Brtko suffered a pulled shoulder and would not play his third singles match. However, he will be ready for this weekend's competition.

At first singles, Susanto dropped a three-set match which saw Westerhoff take the first set, 6-1, Susanto the second, 7-5, and Westerhoff the third, 7-6.

Pressel notched a second singles victory over Kasiman, 6-1, 7-5, while Kelley , playing third singles for the injured Brtko, dropped a 6-0, 6-1 match to Rivera.

At fourth singles, Emihovich fell, 6-1, 6-1, to Andrew Seni and at fifth singles Powell was defeated 6-1, 6-0 by Varga. Sophomore Brent Persia (Pembroke, NY/Pembroke) suffered a 6-0, 6-2 loss at sixth singles to Nick Vizzone.

The Bulls' next competition is Friday, April 6, at the UB Tennis Center, against St. Francis. If there is bad weather, the match will be moved to the Village Glen Tennis Facilities.