Bulls Come Back To Buck Broncos, 4-3

UB takes four of the six singles matches

Anna Subenkova

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women’s tennis team did its best impression of last year’s Mid-American Conference Championship match as the Bulls defeated the Western Michigan Broncos, 4-3, on Friday afternoon. Like last season, UB dropped the doubles point and like last season the Bulls showed the grit and determination that it takes to make a comeback. The victory improves UB’s record to 12-4 on the season and 5-1 in the MAC. The loss for Western Michigan was its first regular season MAC loss since the 2004 season.

Smaranda Stan

In last year’s match the Bulls trailed by a 3-0 score before rattling off four straight victories and this season UB got down by a 3-1 score. After WMU won the doubles point, the Broncos took a match at fourth singles to go up 2-0. Sophomore Diana Popescu then got the Bulls on the board with a 7-6 (1), 6-3 victory over Emily Dudzik at second singles. A win by the Broncos at fifth singles gave them the 3-1 edge, but UB didn’t panic, it just continued to play its game. The Bulls got to within 3-2 as senior Smaranda Stan, last year’s MAC Tournament MVP, avenged a first set loss to come back and defeat Jenny Nalepa, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. The Bulls then tied it up at 3-3 moments later as Denise Harijanto defeated Kerstin Pahl, 7-6 (4), 6-4 at first singles to set up the deciding match at sixth singles. Junior Anna Subenkova was up for the challenge as she won a three set thriller over Rachel Denny, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3 giving the Bulls their first ever regular season win over the Broncos.

Despite dropping the doubles point, UB’s number three team of Stan and Diana Toia defeated Ashley Moccia and Maria Nivia in a tiebreaker, 8-7 (6).

UB will remain home tomorrow afternoon as they host Bowling Green. The match, which will be played indoors at the Village Glen Tennis Center, is set for 1:00 pm.

Diana Popescu

Buffalo 4, #70 Western Michigan 3

Doubles:
1. Emily Dudzik/Yumi Matsuto (WMU) def. Denise Harijanto/Aleksandra Petrova (UB), 8-4
2. Kerstin Pahl/Amanda Moccia (WMU) def. Diana Popescu/Anna Subenkova (UB), 8-4
3. Smaranda Stan/Diana Toia (UB) def. Ashley Moccia/Maria Nivia (WMU), 8-7 (6)
Order of Finish: 1,2,3

Singles:
1. Denise Harijanto (UB) def. Kerstin Pahl (WMU), 7-6 (4), 6-4
2. Diana Popescu (UB) def. Emily Dudzik (WMU), 7-6 (1), 6-3
3. Smaranda Stan (UB) def. Jenny Nalepa (WMU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
4. Maria Nivia (WMU) def. Diana Toia (UB), 6-4, 6-1
5. Ashley Moccia (WMU) def. Aleksandra Petrova (UB), 6-3, 7-5
6. Anna Subenkova (UB) def. Rachel Denny (WMU), 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3
Order of Finish: 4,2,5,3,1,6