Bulls Complete Opening Weekend

UB faces tough competition against Boston College and Brown

Denise Harijanto

BOSTON, MA – The University at Buffalo women’s tennis team began their spring season with a pair of 6-1 defeats this past weekend against Boston College and Brown. UB’s regionally ranked first doubles team picked up a pair of wins, while the Bulls claimed a singles match in each contest.

On Saturday against Boston College, UB’s first doubles team of Denise Harijanto and Diana Popescu defeated Dasha Cherkasov and Lauren Cash, 8-6. However, BC won the matches at two and three to claim the doubles point. In singles action, senior Smaranda Stan won her match at third singles as she defeated Cherkasov, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. The Bulls faced some stiff competition in singles, but held tough, going to three sets at first and second singles against nationally ranked players. In fact, all but one singles match went into three sets.

Diana Popescu

On Sunday the Bulls turned their attention to Brown where again Harijanto and Popescu won their first doubles match against Bianca Aboubakare and Julie Flanzer, 8-5. Brown was able to claim the doubles point with wins at two and three. In singles action, Harijanto picked up a victory at first singles as she defeated Aboubakare, 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-3. That was one of two singles matches to go three sets against Brown.

The Bulls will head home this weekend for their first home match of the season. The Bulls host Manhattan on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2:00 pm at the Village Glenn Tennis Center.

Boston College 6, Buffalo 1

Doubles:
1. Harijanto/Popescu (UB) def. Cherkasov/Cash (BC), 8-6
2. Sullivan/Gajic (BC) def. Stan/Subenkova (UB), 8-0
3. Krasnopolsky/Attwell (BC) def. Petrova/Toia (UB), 8-1

Singles:
1. #69 Lana Krasnopolsky (BC) def. Denise Harijarto (UB), 3-6,6-4,6-1
2. #108 Lauren Cash (BC) def. Diana Popescu (UB), 2-6,7-5,6-2
3. Smaranda Stan (UB) def. Dasha Cherkasov (BC), 6-2,1-6,6-4
4. Katharine Attwell (BC) def. Diana Toia (UB), 4-6,6-0,6-2
5. Alina Sullivan (BC) def. Anna Subenkova (UB), 6-4,6-0
6. Jacqueline Mabatah (BC) def. Aleksandra Petrova (UB), 6-1,3-6,1-0(7)

Brown 6, Buffalo 1

Doubles:
1. Harijanto/Popescu (Buffalo) def. B. Aboubakare/Flanzer (Brown) 8-5
2. Herzberg/Mansur (Brown) def. Stan/Subenkova (Buffalo) 8-1
3. Emily Ellis/Kathrin Sorokko (Brown) def. Petrova/Toia (Buffalo) 8-6

Singles 1. Denise Harijanto (Buffalo) def. Bianca Aboubakare (Brown) 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-3
2. Cassandra Herzberg (Brown) def. Diana Popescu (Buffalo) 6-2, 7-5
3. Sara Mansur (Brown) def. Smaranda Stan (Buffalo) 6-1, 6-1
4. Julie Flanzer (Brown) def. Diana Toia (Buffalo) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
5. Tanja Vucetic (Brown) def. Anna Subenkova (Buffalo) 4-6, 6-3 (10-5)
6. Catherine Stewart (Brown) def. Aleksandra Petrova (Buffalo) 6-2, 6-0