Last Friday, the University at Buffalo's men's tennis team waged war against the University of Vermont and came out victorious with an outstanding 6-1 victory. The score does not reveal just how competitive some of the matches were, with a few three-set battles in singles competition and some nail-biters in the doubles matches.
At first singles, junior standout Fery Kasiman came back to win against Vermont's Zeljko Knezevic in an epic three-set war. He dropped the first set after a 10-8 tiebreaker loss ridden with controversy. Playing mad, he blazed through the second set, taking it 6-2 and then took home the match in a third set tiebreaker by a score of 10-5.
Senior Justin Brtko also staged an impressive comeback victory over Duncan McDonell in second singles. Brtko dropped the first set 4-6 but came back to win the last two 6-1, 7-5.
"Brtko stepped up in the number two spot and showed his incredible athleticism, winning a closely fought third set battle against a very hard hitting 120-mph server," said Bulls' Head Coach Russ Crispell.
Third singles saw UB freshman Nick Zieziula rock Dimitri Eguer in a 6-0, 6-2 mauling. Freshman Randy Rocchio also obliterated competitor Jon Cooper with a 6-1, 6-0 victory.
Rohan Raikar took the only loss for the Bulls. He was defeated in fifth singles by Matthew Spring, 6-4, 6-3.
Freshman Josh Liederman concluded the singles competition by defeating David Levin by a score of 6-4, 6-4.
The Bulls showed their killer instinct with continued success in doubles. Kasiman and Brtko beat Levin and McDonnell at first doubles 8-5.
The Rocchio and Zieziula team, known fondly as "Rock and Roll," took an 8-5 victory in second doubles over Knezevic and Eguer.
Finishing the competition - and completing the doubles sweep - were Raiker and Leiderman, who beat Spring and Cooper in a rousing 9-8 win.
"I expected to face a very tough and determined Vermont team. Each match was extremely well played by the young Bulls and I attribute our success due to the outstanding work ethic that each of my student athletes have," said Crispell.
Later Friday afternoon, the tennis team hit the courts again to face St. Michaels College and further proved they are a force to be reckoned with, sweeping the match 7-0.
Brtko led his team, playing first singles for the first time in his college career, notching a 6-3, 6-3 win over Todd Spelman.
Playing right behind him at second singles was newcomer Rocchio who demolished Matt McInnis 6-0, 6-0. At third singles another freshman, Zieziula, defeated Sol Dostilio rather handily 6-3, 6-0.
Fourth singles was won by another UB freshman, Raikar, who continued the trend of utter domination with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Adam Forrest. At the fifth singles spot, Leiderman had little trouble defeating Luke Hudak 6-3, 6-2.
Senior Sean Kelly, playing at the sixth spot, closed out the singles portion of the match, with a 6-0, 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Cliff Rizzi.
The Bulls enjoyed continued success in the doubles competition, as the Bulls swept all three matches.
Junior Fery Kaisman and Brtko defeated Spelman and Forrest at first doubles 8-2. The terrific rookie duo of Zieziula and Rocchio swept their second doubles match 8-0 over McInnis and Dostilio. Then Kelly, along with freshman Chris Pyke, ensured the sweep with an 8-5 win over Hudak and Rizzi.
After being idle for the remainder of the weekend, the Bulls were asked to serve as the opening match of St. Lawrence's brand new indoor tennis center/field house.
Fresh off Friday's two big wins, the Bulls were looking Monday to end the road trip with an undefeated 3-0 record. They accomplished just that, defeating St. Lawrence University 7-0.
Leading the charge for the Bulls was Kaisman, who got things started off on the right foot by defeating Andrew Bell, 6-2, 6-3 at first singles. Brtko followed that up at second singles with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Ian Graddock.
Playing third singles, Zieziula beat Adam Cutter, 6-0, 6-1. Rocchio continued the onslaught with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Aaron Cutter.
At fifth singles one more freshman, Raikar dismantled Ted Thorndike, 6-0, 6-2. Finally at sixth singles Kelly kept the shutout bid going with a decisive 6-2, 6-1 over John DeLorbe.
The Bulls continued to dominate in doubles play. Kaisman and Brtko teamed up in first doubles to defeat Bell and DeLorbe 8-4. In second doubles, the freshman duo of Zieziula and Rocchio took home the win with 8-4 victory over the Cutters.
Buffalo secured the sweep at doubles, as well as the match, when at third doubles Raiker and Leiderman beat Thorndike and Graddock, 8-1.
"The boys played solid up and down the lineup," added Crispell. "I was thrilled with their play and the fact that UB was asked to play in St. Lawrence's opening of their field house."
The Bulls are now 3-0 for the fall season and will close their season the first weekend of November at the Cornell Invitational.
