Getting revenge feels sweet. The men's tennis team got that feeling on Sunday versus a Colgate team that beat them soundly last year.
"It's great," said senior Mike Rockman. "Last year we lost to Colgate 6-1, so to beat them 7-0 this year is amazing."
In doubles play, senior Albert Alant was paired with freshman Kirill Kolomytes. Chris Innes and Marshall Wheeler of the Raiders were able to break Kolomytes' serve once to go up, 4-2. That turned out to be the deciding factor as it was the only break of the match. Colgate took the first doubles match, 8-5.
In the No. 2 doubles pair, Rockman and senior Yules Hadisubroto were down, 3-2, to Martin MacIntyre and Michael Yassky of Colgate when the Buffalo pair took control. After holding serve, a break gave them plenty of momentum as they won the last five games and took the match, 8-3.
With each team splitting the first two matches, the doubles point was up to the No. 3 match-up. Junior Nikesh Singh Panthlia and sophomore Octavian Stane faced Tyler Deck and John Noqueras of Colgate (0-2). The set was even at 6-6 when Singh Panthlia and Stane won a break and held serve to give Buffalo (3-1) the doubles point, 8-6.
Kolomytes defeated Wheeler in the first singles match to be completed 6-1, 6-3. For Kolomytes, who just joined the team in the spring semester, it was his first collegiate victory.
"It is much different from other matches I've played before," Kolomytes said. "You need to be very intense throughout the whole match, not only for your game, but to pump up the other guys also. It's pretty exciting."
Alant, who was returning from a foot injury, cruised over Yassky, 6-2, 6-2. In the No. 2 singles match, Singh Panthlia took a close first set over Innes. The loss aggravated Innes, as he later threw his racket in disgust. He was no match in the second set and Singh Panthlia went on to win easily, 6-4, 6-0.
Hadisubroto dropped the first set to Deck, but dominated the rest of the match as he won, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. Stane defeated Noqueras 6-4, 6-4. With the match having been decided, a possible sweep was left to the match-up on court one.
Rockman struggled to return the powerful forehand of his opponent early, as McIntyre won the first five games. However, Rockman fought back and won the next three games before McIntyre held serve for the set.
Both players held serve until McIntyre won a break to go up 6-5. Rockman broke back though to force a tie break, which he won for the set.
"When I was down 5-0, I was just thinking to try and hold my serve," Rockman said. "I was thinking point by point some strategy to win points. That's probably why I won the second set, because I was able to find a way."
A super tie-breaker to 10 was played to determine the winner of the match. Rockman emerged victorious to complete the sweep for Buffalo, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 1-0 (10-7).
Though there were times when Rockman was clearly frustrated, he never gave up.
"I stayed with him," Rockman said. "I stayed tough and it paid off. It felt good to come back."
Bulls' head coach Sherif Zaher was proud of Rockman for his hard-fought victory.
"It's a tribute to how hard he's been working," Zaher said. "He puts in more time than anyone and it paid off."
Zaher was pleased with the energy level from his players. He knows the Bulls will face tough opponents as the season continues.
"They are doing a very good job of keeping the intensity up and firing each other up and staying focused on each of their matches," Zaher said. "As the year goes by, the schedule gets tougher and we start playing conference matches towards the end. We have to keep elevating our game and hopefully get our goals accomplished by the end of the year."
The Bulls were scheduled to face Duquesne after Colgate on Sunday night, but Duquesne could not make the trip due to weather conditions. The match has been postponed. Buffalo will travel to St. Bonaventure on Feb. 17 for matches versus Binghamton and Bucknell.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
