Novaceanu Gains Women's Tennis Ranking

Andreea Novaceanu

BUFFALO, NY – After an impressive fall semester, the University at Buffalo's Andreea Novaceanu (Bucharest, Romania/Emil Racovita) has made the collegiate tennis community take notice of her abilities. The junior earned a ranking of number 22 in the current East Regional poll conducted by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and sportswear company Fila.

Novaceanu finished the fall schedule with a 9-2 singles record, including an 8-2 mark in tournament action. She reached the quarterfinals of the ITA Regional Championships in Hanover, NH in October, the farthest any UB tennis player, men's or women's, had advanced at the prestigious Division I competition. Novaceanu gained a first-round bye and was one of two unseeded players to reach the quarterfinals. She went 2-1 in the tournament, downing Kim Weltman of Albany, 6-2, 6-2, in the second round and ninth-seeded Lynzee Kever of Marshall, 7-6 (3), 6-2, in the third round. Novaceanu's run ended with a 6-0, 7-5 loss to Princeton's Melissa Saiontz, the tournament's seventh seed. Saiontz is ranked sixth in the region in the current poll.

Of her two losses this season, both have come against players appearing in the current rankings. Prior to her loss to Saiontz, Novaceanu fell to Yale's Janet Kim at the Princeton Invitational, 6-1, 6-2. Kim received a number 12 ranking in the region. Novaceanu defeated Ohio State's Julie Blackmore, 6-1, 6-2 at the same tournament. Blackmore is presently number 30 in the Midwest Regional poll.

In two and a half seasons with the Bulls, Novaceanu has compiled an overall singles record of 55-14. The 55 wins ties her for second place on UB's all-time victories list with senior Miglena Nenova (Rousse, Bulgaria/Eurointellect). Both players are five wins shy of eclipsing former player and current assistant coach Kristen Ortman's four-year total of 59 victories.

The spring season for the Bulls kicks off on Sunday, January 28 at St. Bonaventure.