Miglena Nenova

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's tennis team lost a 5-2 decision to Ball State in Mid-American Conference action on Saturday at the Village Glen Tennis Center in Williamsville, NY. With the loss the Bulls fall to 4-4 overall and 0-2 in league play while the Cardinals improve to 5-3 overall and 2-0 in the MAC.

UB's top two singles players posted impressive come-from-behind victories for the Bulls' lone points. At number one, freshman Miglena Nenova (Rousse, Bulgaria/Eurointellect) won the opening game of the first set against Ball State's Melissa Roach, but dropped the next six, losing the set 6-1. Nenova then rallied to win the second set, 6-4, after falling behind early again. In the exhausting third set finale, Nenova trailed Roach 4-1 before mounting another rally and winning the next five games, including breaking Roach of her serve in the final game, taking the set, 6-4. The win kept intact Nenova's unbeaten mark in dual meet competition, which now stands at 8-0.

Kristen Ortman

Sophomore Kristen Ortman (Amherst, NY/Amherst) also started slowly in her match against Jenny Batty, dropping the opening set, 6-3. Ortman then started a comeback of her own, bageling Batty in the second set, 6-0, before taking the third set, 6-3. Ortman is now 6-2 in dual meets, including 4-0 when playing at the number two slot.

The remainder of the singles matches went to Ball State. At number three, UB's Katrin Fischer (Ternitz, Austria/Borg) was defeated by Katie Owens, 7-5, 6-2. Erica Zielinski (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) fell at number four to Jill Wieman, 6-1, 6-0. At number five, Lisa Wittman (Cheektowaga, NY/Cheektowaga) lost to Susan Kelley, 6-1, 6-1. Sixth singles player Onessa Williams (Albany, NY/Albany/Mohawk Valley CC) lost her match to Jessica Thompson, 6-3. 6-0. In an pro-set exhibition match, UB's Sheri Ugowski (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) lost to Adrienne Campbell, 8-1.

Ball State began the match by sweeping the doubles competition. UB's Ortman and Nenova lost to Roach and Owens, 8-6, at number one. At number two, Wittman and Zielinski lost to Wieman and Thompson, 8-0. Fischer and Ugowski, at number three, were defeated by Batty and Kelley, 8-5.

The Bulls are off for the next two weeks. They head to Tampa for spring break matches the week of March 14. UB faces Wisconsin-Green Bay on March 14 and Dayton on March 19 on neutral courts. The Bulls will also tangle with Divsion II power Tampa on March 17.

Ball State 5, Buffalo 2

Doubles

1 Melissa Roach/Katie Owens (BSU) d. Kristen Ortman/Miglena Nenova (UB), 8-6

2 Jill Wieman/Jessica Thompson (BSU) d. Lisa Wittman/Erica Zielinksi (UB), 8-0

3 Jenny Batty/Susan Kelley (BSU) d. Katrin Fischer/Sheri Ugowski (UB), 8-5

Singles

1 Miglena Nenova (UB) d. Melissa Roach (BSU), 1-6, 6-4, 6-4

2 Kristen Ortman (UB) d. Jenny Batty (BSU), 3-6, 6-0, 6-3

3 Katie Owens (BSU) d. Katrin Fischer (UB), 7-5, 6-2

4 Jill Wieman (BSU) d. Erica Zielinski (UB), 6-1, 6-0

5 Susan Kelley (BSU) d. Lisa Wittman (UB), 6-1, 6-1

6 Jessica Thompson (BSU) d. Onessa Williams (UB), 6-3, 6-0

7 Adrienne Campbell (BSU) d. Sheri Ugowski (UB), 8-1 (exhibition)