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Men's Tennis Weekly Release

Bulls Pick Up First Dual Meet Win of Season

The University at Buffalo men’s tennis team rolled to a 6-1 victory over visiting St. Francis (PA) Saturday at the University Tennis Center. It was the first dual match win of the year for the Bulls (1-0) and the first as UB head coach for first-year mentor Sharef Zaher.

Big Doubles Rally Opens Lead for Bulls

Octavian Stane

Playing with just five healthy athletes, the Bulls needed to sweep the two contested doubles matches to claim the opening point. The number two match was easily decided in UB's favor as the tandem of Yules Hadisubroto (Jakarta, Indonesia/SMUN 21) and Octavian Stane (Toronto, Ontario/Leaside) downed David Kirby and Jordan Kowalski, 8-2. In the clinching doubles match, UB’s number one duo of Mike Rockman (Toronto, Ontario/Thornlea) and Nikesh Singh Panthlia (George Town, Malaysia/BMK Penang Free School) needed to rally against the St. Francis pair of Andrei Sandu and Jeffrey Seevers. UB trailed 4-1 early in the match but managed to claim the next seven games en route to an 8-4 win and the opening point.

Singh Panthlia and Stane Earn “Double-Bagels”

Nikesh Singh Panthlia

The Bulls were able to claim five singles matches without dropping a set. Highlighting singles action were “double-bagel” victories recorded by Singh Panthlia, at number two, and Stane, at number four, as both staked 6-0, 6-0 wins. Number five player Eric Rothstein (Phoenixville, PA/Great Valley) needed a first-set tiebreaker victory to defeat Kowalski, 7-6 (2), 6-2. UB was forced to default the number six match due to a lack of healthy players in the lineup accounting for the 6-1 margin on the scoreboard.

Off to Philly

The Bulls won’t hit the court for competition again until October 19 when they head to Philadelphia for the ITA Regional Championship matches. Mike Rockman reached the round of 32 at last year’s tournament while the doubles tandem of Yules Hadisubroto and Nikesh Singh Panthlia scored a first-round victory before falling in the next round.