Miglena Nenova

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's tennis team made quick work of visiting St. Francis (PA) on Saturday with a 7-0 victory in the Bulls' home opener at the University Tennis Center. In the nine matches, the Bulls (1-0) allowed just three games to the Red Flash (0-5).

UB juggled its lineup against a weaker St. Francis squad to prepare the Bulls for a stronger Mid-American Conference schedule in the spring.

The Bulls opened with three doubles victories to claim the opening point. UB's top tandem of Katrin Fischer (Ternitz, Austria/Borg) and Miglena Nenova (Rousse, Bulgaria/Eurointellect) defeated Ruxandra Ionescu and Eva Keresztes, 8-0. The number two team of Kristen Ortman (Amherst, NY/Amherst) and Natalie Dean (Feilding, New Zealand/Palmerston North) knocked off Mallary Palmer and Danielle Gauthier, 8-1. UB's third duo, Andreea Novaceanu (Bucharest, Romania/Emil Racovita) and Tina Jacob (Singapore/Raffles JC) also scored a shutout win with an 8-0 victory over Rebecca Seybold and Johnna Jackson.

UB also picked up all six singles wins in straight sets. In four contests, the Bulls earned "double-bagel" 6-0, 6-0 wins in the number two through five matches. At number two, Novaceanu defeated Keresztes while Fischer downed Gauthier in the number three match. Nenova, who moved down to the fourth slot, knocked off Palmer and Dean dumped Seybold in the number five position.

Ortman downed Ionescu, 6-1, 6-0, at number one and Jacob bested Lauren Gamero, 6-0, 6-1, at number six in the only matches that the Bulls did not record "double-bagel" decisions.

Head coach Kathy Twist was pleased with her team's performance but felt there was some room for improvement. "We're still working on our mental toughness and footwork," Twist said. "We want to be successful, playing the right shots at the right time and hustling for the points."

UB returns to action for the ITA Regional Championships starting October 22 at West Point.

Buffalo 7, St. Francis (PA) 0

Doubles

1 Katrin Fischer/Miglena Nenova (UB) d. Ruxandra Ionescu/Eva Keresztes (SFU), 8-0

2 Kristen Ortman/Natalie Dean (UB) d. Mallary Palmer/Danielle Gauthier (SFU), 8-1

3 Andreea Novaceanu/Tina Jacob (UB) d. Rebecca Seybold/Johnna Jackson (SFU), 8-0

Singles

1 Kristen Ortman (UB) d. Ruxandra Ionescu (SFU), 6-1, 6-0

2 Andreea Novaceanu (UB) d. Eva Keresztes (SFU), 6-0, 6-0

3 Katrin Fischer (UB) d. Danielle Gauthier (SFU), 6-0, 6-0

4 Miglena Nenova (UB) d. Mallary Palmer (SFU), 6-0, 6-0

5 Natalie Dean (UB) d. Rebecca Seybold (SFU), 6-0, 6-0

6 Tina Jacob (UB) d. Lauren Gamero (SFU), 6-0, 6-1