Bulls Rally in Singles Play to Tame Huskies, 4-3

Nikesh Singh Panthlia

WILLIAMSVILLE, NY – The University at Buffalo men's tennis team used a late rally to come from behind and defeat Mid-American Conference rival Northern Illinois, 4-3, on Friday at the Village Glen Tennis Center. The Bulls (6-11, 1-2 MAC) trailed the Huskies (7-9, 0-2 MAC), 3-2, before rallying to win the match with a pair of third-set victories.

The Bulls needed to win four singles matches after dropping the doubles point. With UB trailing 3-2 and two matches undecided, the Bulls were forced to make their comeback with a pair contests each in the final set.

In the number two match, junior Nikesh Singh Panthlia (George Town, Malaysia/BMK Penang Free School) dropped his opening set against Alex Friesen, 6-4, but came back to tie the match with a 6-1 win in the second set. In the deciding set, Singh Panthlia trailed 2-1 before winning the next five games and clinching the match. The final point of the match occurred when Friesen double-faulted, his final serve going into the net.

Yules Hadisubroto

In the number four match, senior Yules Hadisubroto (Jakarta, Indonesia/SMUN 21) also dropped the opening set, falling to Jimmy Chu, 6-2. Hadisubroto tied the match with a 6-2 win of his own in the second set. In the third set, Chu raced out to a 3-0 lead but Hadisubroto stormed back to win the next six games and claim the 6-3 win and give the Bulls the overall victory.

Also claiming singles wins for the Bulls were senior Albert Alant (Pretoria, South Africa/Niskayuna (NY)) at number five and sophomore Octavian Stane (Toronto, Ontario/Leaside) at number six. Both won their contests in straight sets.

Kirill Kolomytes

The doubles contests turned into nailbiters with all three going into extra play. UB's number one team of Singh Panthlia and Kirill Kolomytes (Moscow, Russia/Moscow High School 155), playing in the top spot for the first time this season won a 7-5 tiebreaker over Brian Livingston and Ford after trailing 5-2 in the breaker. The Huskies won the doubles point with 9-7 victories in the number two and three matches.

The Bulls will be busy on Saturday with a pair of matches at the Village Glen Tennis Center. At 1:00 pm, UB hosts IPFW in a MAC showdown. At 7:00 pm, UB tangles with in-state rival Marist.

Buffalo 4, Northern Illinois 3

Doubles

1 Nikesh Singh Panthlia/Kirill Kolomytes (UB) d. Brian Livingston/Adam Ford (NIU), 9-8 (5)

2 Alex Friesen/Jimmy Chu (NIU) d. Mike Rockman/Yules Hadisubroto (UB), 9-7

3 Alfonso Monroy/Diego Zegarra-Ballon (NIU) d. Albert Alant/Octavian Stane (UB), 9-7

Order of finish: 3 1 2

Singles

1 Brian Livingston (NIU) d. Mike Rockman (UB), 6-4, 6-4

2 Nikesh Singh Panthlia (UB) d. Alex Friesen (NIU), 4-6, 6-1, 6-2

3 Adam Ford (NIU) d. Kirill Kolomytes (UB), 7-5, 6-0

4 Yules Hadisubroto (UB) d. Jimmy Chu (NIU), 2-6, 6-2, 6-3

5 Albert Alant (UB) d. Diego Zegarra-Ballon (NIU), 6-1, 6-3

6 Octavian Stane (UB) d. Alfonso Monroy (NIU), 6-3, 6-3

Order of finish: 5 3 6 1 2 4