First round sweep sets tone for Bulls

In a rematch from just a week ago, the Bulls did away with the Mastodons of Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne University (IPFW) for the second time in a row.

This time, however, Buffalo prevailed with greater stakes on the line: elimination from the Mid-American Conference Championships.

Because of the fact that this is the championship tournament, the first team to reach four total points ends the match. The Bulls were able to reach four points in just five total matches: two doubles victories and three singles victories.

To start the day, the Bulls got a victory from their number one doubles team of Nick Zieziula and Yules Hadisubroto with a relatively easy 8-2 final score.

"We came out quick at first doubles, and we faced the same team that we played last time at home, and we knew the key was just getting some good returns to get them back on their heels," said Zieziula. "We knew as soon as we got them back on their heels, it was real easy to finish off points. They played us tough for the first three or four games and then we got them back on their heels and moved on from there."

Following the Bulls' victory at number one doubles, the third doubles tandem of Albert Alant and Matt Kennedy continued Buffalo's winning ways, defeating Sam Rocke and Daniel Jackson 8-3.

Locking up the doubles point is something that the Bulls have not been able to accomplish on a consistent basis this year, as they have not won a doubles point since March 6 when the men swept Duquesne 7-0.

"To finally come out and win the doubles point was big," said Zieziula. "We've done a good job of maintaining composure when we were down 1-0, but we came out and got things done early without any messing around in doubles."

Once the doubles point was in the bag, the remaining doubles match did not need to be played, so Mike Rockman and Josh Liederman were able to take a little more time to rest up for their singles matches.

The extra rest, in turn, paid off, as Liederman and Rockman were both victorious in their singles matches.

Liederman took on Ian Leonhardt and defeated him in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2 while Rockman took on and defeated Nabil Mourad Filho, who didn't win a game in the first set. Rockman took the match in straight sets.

Zieziula also enjoyed a straight set victory over IPFW's Larry Nzudie 6-0, 6-2.

"I came out real confident," said Zieziula. "It helped having just played (Nzudie) not that long ago, we played in basically the same conditions, we played outside and it was a little windy, and he wasn't able to handle returning well at all, so I had a lot of confidence on my service game, and I got on top of him quick, he kind of rolled over once I got confident."

The Bulls were able to follow the example of their senior co-captain, as he solidified the first doubles match win and the first singles match win played on Thursday.

"It's a great feeling, I think that's part of my responsibility as being a captain," Zieziula said. "I was putting a lot of pressure on myself today to go ahead and set the tone in doubles and in singles to show the rest of the tournament that this is our year to go out and make a run for it."

Last year, the Bulls were victorious in the first round against Toledo, while losing their second round match. Zieziula believes that this year will be different for the Bulls however, because of the season they have battled through already.

"When we beat Toledo last year it was still a surprise," Zieziula commented. "(Thursday) we came out fired up, but as soon as we got going, when we finished the match, it was low-key for as big a victory as it was."

Though Buffalo was able to tear through the Mastodons on Thursday, the Bulls will be facing a much tougher Western Michigan opponent on Friday. The last time these two teams played, the Broncos came away with a 7-0 sweep of the Bulls.

Because UB was able to sweep IPFW on Thursday, the players earned themselves a lot of extra rest going into Friday's match, in addition to a plentiful amount of positive momentum.

"From a physical standpoint, it's great to be able to relax," said Zieziula. "But mentally, when we can come off a victory like that, that's what a lot of this conference has come down to, confidence. We want to show that we're at the top half of this conference and we belong here."

The Bulls had won four of their last five matches going into the tournament, and have now won four in a row. They will look to stretch that streak to five when they face host team Western Michigan on Friday at 2 p.m.