BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men's tennis team lost a heartbreaking 4-3 match to Toledo University yesterday, in its final home competition of the season. The Bulls' record is now 14-4 overall and 0-3 in the Mid-American Conference.

The Rockets swept the doubles matches and posted wins in three of the six singles matches to notch their first MAC win of the season.

"This season, we wanted to come out and gain some respect from the conference," said head coach Russ Crispell. "This match was the closest we've come. Two or three shots were the difference between a win and a loss for us."

Seniors Budi Susanto (Bali, Indonesia/Hilton Head Prep) and Dave Emihovich (Getzville, NY/Williamsville North) played their final home matches of their UB careers.

Susanto teamed with sophomore Fery Kasiman (Jakarta, Indonesia/Hilton Head Prep) at first doubles but could not pull out the win, dropping an 8-6 match to Dipesh Rao and Hector Arroyo. Susanto also dropped a three-set first-singles match to Rao, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7.

"Budi lost a heartbreaker. His opponent was ranked internationally and he took advantage of the opportunities. Budi has been a tremendous first singles player for us throughout the years and he has given a lot to this program," said Crispell.

Emihovich teamed with junior captain Justin Brtko (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) at second doubles and also could not produce a win falling 8-3 to Pete Baghdati and Zach Barden. Emihovich, playing fourth singles, notched his first-ever MAC victory against Shi Jin, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.

"Dave stepped up as a leader like we knew he could," said Crispell. "He pulled out an amazing win in the toughest match of his career."

Junior Tim Powell (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) and sophomore Brent Persia (Pembroke, NY/Pembroke) dropped an 8-4 third-doubles match to Jin and Kyle Ragan.

At second singles Kasiman defeated Baghdati, 6-1, 6-1, while at third singles, Brtko dropped a three-set match, 3-6, 6-2, 0-6 to Arroyo.

At fifth singles, Sean Kelley (Gorham, NY/Marcus Whitman) dropped a 6-3, 2-6, 4-6 match to Ragan while at sixth singles, Powell picked up his first-ever MAC victory with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Barden.

The Bulls' next competitions are road contests against MAC opponents on Friday, April 20, at Western Michigan and then on Saturday, April 21, at Northern Illinois.