Women's Tennis Weekly Release

Bulls Defeat Nationally-Ranked Program for First Time

After trailing 3-0, the University at Buffalo’s women’s tennis team rallied to win the next four matches and defeated nationally-ranked Syracuse, 4-3, Friday evening at Syracuse’s Drumlins Tennis Center. It was the first time in school history that UB had defeated a ranked women’s tennis program as the Orange entered the contest tied for 75th in the Fila/Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. The Bulls then followed with a 7-0 whitewashing of local rival Niagara on Sunday afternoon to raise UB’s record to 4-0.

Jacob Scores Clincher Against Syracuse

Tina Jacob

Playing without their number one player, junior Andreea Novacenau (Bucharest, Romania/Emil Racovita), who has been sidelined during the spring season with an injury, the Bulls were forced to juggle their lineup. Novaceanu gained a ranking of 22nd in the East region from Fila and the ITA prior to the start of the spring campaign. UB scored victories in the bottom three singles matches to defeat Syracuse. UB junior Tina Jacob (Singapore/Raffles JC) scored a straight-sets win over Syracuse freshman Chelsea Jones, 7-5, 6-1, in the number five singles for the clincher as the Bulls avenged last season's 6-1 loss to the Orange. Jacob also downed Niagara’s Jacquelyn Cary, 6-1, 6-3, on Sunday to remain unbeaten in dual meet play at 4-0. Jacob is one of three players with at least 10 singles wins this season.

Nenova Scores Win Over Ranked Opposition

Miglena Nenova

With the Bulls having to move the lineup around to compensate for Novaceanu’s absence, senior Miglena Nenova (Rousse, Bulgaria/Eurointellect) stepped into the number one spot in singles play. She was instrumental in the win over Syracuse as she scored a 6-3, 6-0 win over Olga Votavova, ranked 28th in the East. Nenova is 4-0 this season from the number one slot on the singles ladder. Nenova and partner Denise Harijanto (Jakarta, Indonesia) are also unbeaten in doubles play in the dual meet campaign with four wins, three from the number one spot. Nenova and Harijanto are 12-4 overall in doubles play in 2006-07.

Stan Continues Winning Streak

Smaranda Stan

With her two victories over the weekend, junior Smaranda Stan (Stantu Gheorghe, Bulgaria/Economic) is currently on a seven-match singles win streak. Stan defeated Syracuse’s Carolina Huignard on Friday and then picked up a 6-0, 6-0 win over Niagara’s Sheila Dargout on Sunday. Stan is 13-1 this season in singles play and has won four matches by “double-bagel” counts. Her lone loss came in the Princeton Invitational to Christina Keesey of Ohio State.