Bulls Roll Past Red Flash in Home Opener

After invitational meets at St. Bonaventure and Dartmouth, the Bulls returned home for the dual opener against regional rival St. Francis (PA) at the University Tennis Club, scoring a 7-0 whitewashing of the visiting Red Flash.

Doubles Rally Leads Bulls to First Point

Yules Hadisubroto

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.

Singles No Match For Flash

Mike Zappone

UB rolled in the six singles matches as Mike Rockman (Toronto, Ontario/Thornlea) 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.

Blue and White Courts Give Bulls an Advantage

The University Tennis Center courts underwent a refurbishing during the summer with the courts now sporting a new blue and white paint job, symbolic of UB's school colors. Under the blue skies of Saturday afternoon, the blue courts sparkled as the Bulls defended their home without dropping a set. Head coach Russ Crispell spearheaded the effort to change the colors from the traditional green of normal courts.