Joe Popielarczyk

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men's tennis team debuted its new blue and white court on Saturday with a 7-0 whitewashing of regional rival St. Francis (PA) at the University Tennis Club in the home opener for the Bulls.

The court refurbishing, painted in the school colors of blue and white, gave the Bulls a distinct edge as UB (1-0) did not lose a set to the Red Flash (0-4).

In the number one doubles match, UB's duo of Yules Hadisubroto (Jakarta, Indonesia/SMUN 21) and Nikesh Singh Panthlia (George Town, Malaysia/BMK Penang Free School) needed to rally from a game behind to defeat Andrei Sandu and Jeffrey Seevers. Trailing 3-2 on a changeover, the UB team scored six consecutive wins to earn an 8-3 victory.

The remainder of the doubles matches were won in convincing fashion by the Bulls. At number two, Matt Kennedy (Mississauga, Ontario/Erindale) and Albert Alant (Pretoria, South Africa/Niskayuna (NY)) defeated Robert Ford and Kyle Primeau, 6-1. At number three, UB's Octavian Stane (Toronto, Ontario/Leaside) combined with Alejandro Galindo (Torreon, Mexico/Preparatoria Tec) to down David Kirby and Mark Pell by an identical 8-1 margin.

UB rolled in the six singles matches as Rockman defeated Sandu, 6-1, 6-1 at number one to lead the squad. Hadisubroto defeated Ford, 6-0, 6-1, at number two. At number three, Singh Panthlia knocked off Ajay Nune, 6-1, 6-3. Kennedy, playing number four, recorded a 6-2, 6-3 decision over Seevers.

Seniors Mike Zappone (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) and Joe Popielarczyk (Buffalo, NY/McKinley) also recorded convincing wins in the fifth and sixth singles matches. Zappone defeated Brent Keough, 6-3, 6-1, at number five, while Popielarczyk upended Tyler Jones, 6-0, 6-1. Popielarczyk finished with an exclamation point by recording an ace to win the second set and close out the match.

"Up and down the lineup, the guys came to play," said head coach Russ Crispell.

The Bulls return to action at the ITA Regional Championships in Hanover, NH on October 20.

Buffalo 7, St. Francis (PA) 0

Doubles

1 Yules Hadisubroto/Nikesh Singh Panthlia (UB) d. Andrei Sandu/Jeffrey Seevers (SFU), 8-3

2 Matt Kennedy/Albert Alant (UB) d. Robert Ford/Kyle Primeau (SFU), 8-1

3 Octavian Stane/Alejandro Galindo (UB) d. David Kirby/Mark Pell (SFU), 8-1

Singles

1 Mike Rockman (UB) d. Andrei Sandu (SFU), 6-1, 6-1

2 Yules Hadisubroto (UB) d. Robert Ford (SFU), 6-0, 6-1

3 Nikesh Singh Panthlia (UB) d. Ajay Nune (SFU), 6-1, 6-2

4 Matt Kennedy (UB) d. Jeffrey Seevers (SFU), 6-2, 6-3

5 Mike Zappone (UB) d. Brent Keough (SFU), 6-3, 6-1

6 Joe Popielarczyk (UB) d. Tyler Jones (SFU), 6-0, 6-1