Nick Zieziula

BLACKSBURG, VA – The University at Buffalo men’s tennis team scored three first round victories but dropped second round matches to end its run at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s regional tournament, hosted by Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA.

Singles players Nick Zieziula (Hamburg, NY/St. Francis) and Mike Rockman (Toronto, Ontario/Thornhill) scored first round wins while Rockman combined with Josh Liederman (Queens Village, NY/Benjamin Cardozo) to register a first round doubles win.

Zieziula opened play with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Phil Charm of Brown. Rockman, meanwhile, posted a 6-4, 6-2 opening round win over Mhamed Mekaoui of Robert Morris.

Both players were stopped in second round play, but not without strong efforts. Zieziula faced Nikola Djordjevic of Hofstra, forcing tiebreakers in both sets. Zieziula was defeated 7-4 in the first tiebreaker and 7-3 in the second tiebreaker. Rockman also fell in straight sets to 10th-seeded Stephane Rod of Virginia Tech, 6-2, 7-5.

Rockman and Liederman scored a first round doubles win with a 9-7 decision over the Boston College duo of Derrice Chou and Chris McCoy. They were then eliminated by Mickey Gallagher and Reed Hagmann of Colgate, 8-1.

Zieziula and Matt Kennedy (Mississauga, Ontario/Erindale) were knocked out of the doubles competition in the first round by Brandon Chiu and Gideon Valkin of Harvard, 8-3.

UB’s Yules Hadisubroto (Jakarta, Indonesia/SMUN 21) also competed in Blacksburg in Thursday’s qualifying round. He was defeated by Antonio Aniello of St. Joseph’s in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, denying the sophomore the chance of competing in the main draw of the tournament.

The consolation rounds of the singles competition were cancelled due to inclement weather.

Qualifying round: Antonio Aniello (St. Joseph's) d. Yules Hadisubroto (UB), 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
First round: Nick Zieziula (UB) d. Phil Charm (Brown), 6-4, 6-0. Mike Rockman (UB) d. Mhamed Mekaoui (Robert Morris), 6-4, 6-2.

Second round: Nikola Djordjevic (Hofstra) d. Nick Zieziula (UB), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3). Stephane Rod (10) (Virginia Tech) d. Mike Rockman (UB), 6-2, 7-5.

Doubles

First round: Brandon Chiu/Gideon Valkin (Harvard) d. Nick Zieziula/Matt Kennedy (UB), 8-3. Josh Liederman/Mike Rockman (UB) d. Derrice Chou/Chris McCoy (Boston College), 9-7.
Second round: Mickey Gallagher/Reed Hagmann (Colgate) d. Josh Liederman/Mike Rockman (UB), 8-1.