In its second double-bagel victory of the school year, the women's tennis team opened its spring season in dominant fashion on Sunday, shutting down the University of Rochester 9-0.
The team received credit for all the individual wins, rather than the typical 7-0 perfect score, as a result of the Yellowjackets' Division III status.
The Bulls were perfect in the single matches in securing the win, as they won the top two matches in straight sets.
Taking the first two victories was sophomore Andreea Novaceanu as she easily beat Rochester's Coleen Cross 6-0, and junior Miglena Nenova who slammed Alexa Perry 6-0, 6-0.
"Maggie has a powerful ground stroke and understands how to win," said head coach Kathleen Twist in a press release.
Buffalo notched its last double-bagel win last fall against St. Francis (Penn.) as the Bulls won all five matches in 6-0, 6-0 fashion.
The Buffalo doubles teams also had strong showings last weekend as they locked downed every match in shutout style. Sophomore Tina Jacob and Novaceanu defeated Cross and Perry of the Yellowjackets 8-0, while two other UB teams went on to win doubles matches.
"Andreea will be the best player in the MAC," Twist said.
The second doubles win came from the duo of senior Kristen Ortman and sophomore Natalie Dean as they bounced the Yellowjackets' Melinda Beckmann and Jillian Grieshaber by a score of 8-0. Juniors Katrin Fischer and Nenova rounded out the doubles victories as they defeated Sanjana Prabhakar and Kristen Shaw, 8-0.
At the No. 3 spot in the singles slots Fischer took on Prabhakar of Rochester where the junior downed her Yellowjacket opponent 6-1, 6-1. The match was the first set that Rochester was able to take. Fischer's win comes on the heels of a Most Improved Player of the Year award from 2005, when she finished 15-8 on the season.
The Bulls also won the No. 4 and 5 showdowns as Ortman defeated Della 6-1, 6-2 while Dean handled Grieshaber in the closest match of the day by scores of 6-3, 6-3.
The last match of the day showcased Jacob of the Bulls against the Yellowjackets' Beckmann. Jacob swept the match 6-3, 6-1, completing the Bulls' shutout dominance.
Buffalo looks to improve on last season after finishing 4-5 in MAC play and 8-7 overall.
The Bulls will compete next on Super Bowl Sunday as they take on Cleveland State. The match will start at 1 p.m. in the Village Glen Tennis Center in Williamsville.
The last time the two met, Buffalo defeated Cleveland by a score of 6-1. Cleveland is 3-3 overall this season.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
