Women’s Tennis Announces 2007-08 Award Winners

Six Bulls honored after championship season

2008 Mid-American Conference Champions

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women’s tennis team announced its 2007-08 award winners after completing a season where the Bulls won their first ever Mid-American Conference Title and made their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

Junior Smaranda Stan (Stantu Gheorghe, Romania/Economic) was named the team’s most valuable player after she completed her best season in a UB uniform. Stan was tied for the team lead in wins and she was named the MVP of the MAC Tournament after recording the clinching win in all three matches, including the MAC Championship match. Stan finished the season with a 27-5 singles mark and a 10-12 record at doubles. However, the doubles play was strong as of late as Stan and Diana Toia (Rochester, NY/Brighton) were leading in their match against Western Michigan and they were in a tight match with UCLA when doubles play ended.

Toia, a sophomore, was named the team’s most improved player as she spent most of the season at fifth singles and second doubles for the Bulls. It was a major upgrade for Toia, who did not crack the singles lineup during MAC play at all as a freshman. Toia had a 13-11 mark in singles play, including a crucial victory at fifth singles in the MAC Championship match. Toia also had an 18-14 mark during doubles play through out the season.

Freshman Diana Popescu (Alexandria, Romania/AL. I. Cuza) picked up the team’s top newcomer award after she finished the season with a 27-5 singles record, which was tied for the team lead. Popescu, who was named the MAC Freshman of the Year, played most of the season at third singles where she had an 11-1 record. Popescu also had a crucial win in UB’s victory over Western Michigan. Popescu teamed up with Denise Harijanto (Jakarta, Indonesia) at first doubles where the team had a 20-9 record. The team was 14-7 at first doubles, including 6-2 in the MAC. Popescu and Harijanto had the task of playing the number one doubles team in the nation on two separate occasions, including in their NCAA Tournament match.

Harijanto and senior Tina Jacob (Singapore/Raffles JC) were both given the coach’s award for their dedication to the team. Harijanto played most of the season despite injury and had a 21-11 singles record. She was 8-5 at second singles, including a perfect 4-0 in the MAC. Harijanto also teamed up with Popescu at first doubles where they combined for a 20-9 record. For the second straight season, Harijanto was named to the All-MAC Second Team and for the first time she was named to the Academic All-MAC Team. Jacob, one of two seniors on the team, finished the year with a 15-10 record as she spent most of the season at sixth singles, but did see action at fourth and fifth singles. Jacob also finished with a 20-9 doubles record with most of those matches coming with partner Andreea Novaceanu (Bucharest, Romania/Emil Racovita). The two seniors played at third doubles and had an 8-2 mark, including 4-0 in the MAC.

Novaceanu was honored as well by the team as UB’s all-time singles victories leader. Novaceanu, a three-time All-MAC First Team selection, ended her UB career with an 83-28 singles record and her 83 wins also tie her with Mike Rockman for the most singles victories in UB tennis history, men or women. Novaceanu, who played all season at first singles for UB, finished with a 20-11 singles record and a 16-9 doubles mark. Following the season, Novaceanu was also recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association as the ITA East Senior Player of the Year.

The Bulls finished the season 12-9 and 4-4 in the MAC, winning their first ever MAC Title. The Bulls also made their first NCAA Tournament appearance where they traveled to Los Angeles, CA to play UCLA. The Bulls graduated just two seniors from the 2007-08 team.

05/14/2008