BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men's tennis program took a giant step in the right direction this weekend at the Brown Invitational held at Brown University.

"This was the best showing, from a team perspective, at a major competition since I've been here," said Head Coach Russ Crispell.

UB was led by freshman Fery Kasiman (Jakarta, Indonesia/Hilton Head Prep). Playing first singles, Kasiman finished fourth overall in the Flight A singles competition. Kasiman, who entered competition unseeded, advanced to the semi-finals with first and second round wins of 7-5, 6-2 over Geoff Wagner of Boston University and 6-2, 6-0 over Michael Sowter of Marist. It was the second straight week that Kasiman defeated Sowter. In his semi-final match, Kasiman fell 6-3, 6-0. In the match for third and fourth place, Kasiman was defeated 6-2, 6-2 by Chris Wolfe of Brown University.

Also coming out of the Flight A singles competition was senior Budi Susanto (Bali, Indonesia/Hilton Head Prep). Susanto lost his first-round match, but with two wins in consolation play, advanced to the finals where he eventually was defeated 7-6, 6-4 by Keith Dressler of Providence College.

Playing third singles for the Bulls in the B flight was junior Justin Brtko (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East). Brtko lost his opening match, but bounced back to take the Flight B consolation bracket with four straight victories. In the first and second round of consolation play, Brtko only dropped 5 games total. His semi-final match against Colin Kennedy of Boston College proved to be his toughest competition, winning, 7-6, 6-1.

Junior Tim Powell (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) notched a win in the Flight C singles competition. to advance to the quarter finals before being defeated 6-4, 6-2. Also tallying wins for the Bulls in the singles D flight were sophomore Brent Persia (Pembroke, NY/Pembroke), and junior Sean Kelley (Gorham, NY/Marcus Whitman).

On the doubles side, the Bulls switched up their pairings from the previous week's competition. Susanto and Kasiman and Powell and Persia both pulled out first-round victories, before losing their next match.

"With our play this weekend, we proved that we belong at this level of competition," said Crispell. "We went looking for respect and got it."

UB's next competition is this weekend at the St. Bonaventure Invitational, held at St. Bonaventure University. The Bulls next return home on Friday, Oct. 6, for matches against Rider, St. Peters College and Loyola.

2000 Fall Schedule/Results

Date Opponent/Tournament Site/Results

Sept. 17. MARIST W. 4-3

Sept. 22-24 @ Brown Invitational Providence, RI

Sept. 30-Oct. 1 @ St. Bonaventure Tournament Olean, NY

Oct. 6-8 RIDER/ST. PETERS/LOYOLA UB Tennis Center

Oct. 15 YOUNGSTOWN STATE UB Tennis Center

Oct. 21 St. FRANCIS COLLEGE UB Tennis Center

Nov. 1-5 ITA Rolex Championship Morgantown, WV

Home matches are in Bold Caps and are held at the UB Tennis Center, Ellicott Complex