Bulls Roll Past Huskies, 6-1

UB wins its ninth straight match

Denise Harijanto

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women’s tennis team kept its winning streak alive, picking up its ninth straight win on Saturday afternoon. The Bulls defeated Northern Illinois, 6-1, at the Village Glen Tennis Center. UB is now 10-3 on the year and 3-0 in the MAC. The 3-0 start in the MAC is UB’s second all-time and their first since 2006-07.

The Bulls began the day by claiming the doubles point, taking two of the three matches. UB’s number one team of Denise Harijanto and Diana Popescu shutout Lillian Asuaje and Emily Rogers from NIU, 8-0. Buffalo’s number three team of Smaranda Stan and Anna Subenkova then clinched the point with an 8-3 victory over Brooke Forsberg and Stephanie Okuma.

Smaranda Stan

UB opened singles play by winning five of the six contests and all five of those came in straight sets. Popescu won her match at second singles with a dominating 6-0, 6-3 win over Kathryn Friedland. Following that victory, sophomore Aleksandra Petrova put UB up 3-0 with a win at fifth singles over Brooke Forsberg, 6-3, 6-1. Harijanto then clinched the match for the Bulls at first singles with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Asuaje. Following a Northern Illinois win at fourth singles, Stan increased UB’s lead with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Martina Schnapp at third singles. Subenkova then wrapped it up at sixth singles as she fought back constantly through her match to win at sixth singles over Sara McLaughlin, 7-5, 7-6 (4). Playing in an exhibition match for UB was freshman Sonya Ivanyuk, who defeated Okuma, 8-3.

The Bulls return to action next weekend as they head out on their last regular season road trip of the year. UB will begin on Friday at Miami (OH) and will conclude on Saturday at Ball State.

Anna Subenkova

Buffalo 6, Northern Illinois 1

Doubles
1. Denise Harijanto/Diana Popescu (UB) def. Lillian Asuaje/Emily Rogers (NIU), 8-0
2. Kathryn Friedland/Sara McLaughlin (NIU) def. Aleksandra Petrova/Diana Toia (UB), 8-6
3. Smaranda Stan/Anna Subenkova (UB) def. Brooke Forsberg/Stephanie Okuma (NIU), 8-3

Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2

Singles
1. Denise Harijanto (UB) def. Lillian Asuaje (NIU), 6-0, 6-2
2. Diana Popescu (UB) def. Kathryn Friedland (NIU), 6-0, 6-3
3. Smaranda Stan (UB) def. Martina Schnapp (NIU), 6-3, 7-5
4. Emily Rogers (NIU) def. Diana Toia (UB), 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Aleksandra Petrova (UB) def. Brooke Forsberg (NIU), 6-3, 6-1
6. Anna Subenkova (UB) def. Sara McLaughlin (NIU), 7-5, 7-6 (4)
E Sonya Ivanyuk (UB) def. Stephanie Okuma (NIU), 8-3

Order of Finish: 2, 5, 1, 4, 3, 6