Kristen Ortman

AKRON, OH – The University at Buffalo women’s tennis team just fell short of the first Mid-American Conference victory of the season dropping a 4-3 decision at Akron. The match was played Friday afternoon at Akron’s LaTuchie Tennis Center. With the loss, the Bulls are now 6-9 overall and 0-5 in league play while the Zips improve to 4-9, 1-4.

MIchelle Kollarova

UB was unable to gain ground early, dropping all three doubles matches to begin the day. Number one doubles team Karen Maynard (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill) and Kristen Ortman (Amherst, NY/Amherst) were defeated 8-2 by Irina Strembitsky and Diana Serafini. Second team Michelle Kollarova (Bratislava, Slovak Republic/Sport Gymnasium) and Erica Zielinski (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) dropped a tight 8-6 match to Courtney Brenkus and Mindy Price. UB’s number three team of Lisa Wittman (Cheektowaga, NY/Cheektowaga) and Sheri Ugowski (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) fell 8-4 to Stephanie Miles and Meredith Carey.

Wendy Rose

The Bulls split the singles matches winning three of the six as the doubles point proved to be the all-important deciding factor of the day. UB picked up a win at second singles from Ortman as the freshman won a tiebreaker 11-9 over Brenkus, after the pair had split the first two sets. Ortman took the first set, 6-4, while Brenkus won the second, 6-3. For Ortman, it was the second MAC win of the season. She defeated Miami’s Grace Cascarilla in a tiebreaker last Friday.

Also earning singles wins for the Bulls were Kollarova at number three and Wendy Rose (Eden, NY/Eden) at number six. Kollarova dispatched of Serafini, 6-4, 6-3. Rose was tested in her match against Carey but held on for a 7-5, 7-6 victory, taking the tiebreaker, 7-3.

Maynard, at first singles, fell to Stembitsky, 6-2, 6-1. Zielinski, at number four, was defeated by Price, 6-0, 6-2. Wittman dropped a 6-2, 6-1 match to Miles in the remaining three contests.

UB hosts MAC foes Eastern Michigan and Toledo next Friday and Saturday, respectively. Both matches are slated for 1 pm starts.

Akron 4, Buffalo 3

Singles

1 Irina Strembitsky (UA) d. Karen Maynard (UB), 6-2, 6-1

2 Kristen Ortman (UB) d. Courtney Brenkus (UA), 6-4, 3-6, 11-9

3 Michelle Kollarova (UB) d. Diana Serafini (UA), 6-4, 6-3

4 Mindy Price (UA) d. Erica Zielinski (UB), 6-0, 6-2

5 Stephanie Miles (UA) d. Lisa Wittman (UB), 6-2, 6-1

6 Wendy Rose (UB) d. Meredith Carey (UA), 7-5, 7-6 (3)

Doubles

1 Irina Stembitsky/Diana Serafini (UA) d. Karen Maynard/Kristen Ortman (UB), 8-2

2 Courtney Brenkus/Mindy Price (UA) d. Michelle Kollarova/Erica Zielinski (UB), 8-6

3 Stephanie Miles/Meredith Carey (UA) d. Lisa Wittman/Sheri Ugowski (UB), 8-4