The women's tennis team went to West Point this past weekend to prove that they are strong. Army strong. The mission was a success, as two Bulls came home from the Army Invitational Championships with individual titles.
Senior Andreea Novaceanu, the top ranked player in the second singles flight, took home her title in fashion. She won all four of her matches in straight sets. On Sunday, Novaceanu defeated Stony Brook's Paola Ridoolfi, 6-3, 6-4 to clinch the individual title.
Head coach Kathy Twist was very pleased with Novaceanu's play. She had not played much during the off-season as she was resting an injured ankle.
"Andrea played great," Twist said. "She played the second flight and she hasn't really been playing all summer because she was healing up an injury. She was just outstanding."
Twist recognized that Novaceanu was not up to her usual level of play early on, but felt she got stronger as she got deeper into the tournament.
"She was very poised and played with confidence," Twist said. "Even though her game for the first couple of rounds wasn't where it should have been; she just worked through getting her rhythm and her footwork going. In the final, she was crushing everybody."
In her first collegiate competition, freshman Diana Popescu won all five of her matches. She lost just two games through the first three rounds of play. She capped off the tournament with a victory over Elizabeth Adams of Pittsburgh, 6-4, 6-3 to win the third singles flight title.
Twist credited her success to her all-around game and ability to stay positive.
"We're very lucky to have her come to UB," Twist said. "She is an all-court player, and besides that, she plays smart. She has control of her positive energy and positive thoughts."
Twist knew that Popescu was an outstanding player, but was still surprised about how she handled herself on the court, as she was starting play at a new level.
"I thought maybe she would be a little nervous, but she wasn't," Twist said. "If she was nervous, she didn't show it. Her stroke certainly didn't show it. She just hit the right shots at the right time. That shows that you're in the match and not thinking about how you're playing or how you're going to beat this opponent. She just played every ball the best she could, and that's unique for a freshman."
Sophomore Denise Harijanto also made it to the finals of her flight. Despite losing in the championships to Kristy Borza of Pittsburgh, 6-4, 6-2, Harijanto looked strong as she won four matches during the invite. She upset Stacey Percival of West Virginia, who was the highest ranked player in her flight.
Twist was happy to see Harijanto advance to the finals. She credited her opponent for the loss. Borza was ranked seventh in the first singles flight.
"Denise played awesome," Twist said. "She lost in the finals to a great competitor from Pitt. Seeing three girls from Buffalo in the finals, we dominated that tournament."
Junior Tina Jacob and sophomore Diana Toia paired up in doubles play. They won three matches in the first doubles flight. The duo lost in the consolation final to Andrea Sailer and Kristen Swenson from Duquesne.
After such a strong performance to start off Popescu's freshman campaign, Twist looks forward to the future.
"You're going to see great things from her," Twist said. "She plays with anybody, with girls playing hard or girls going to the net. This girl's got it all. As a freshman, to see that kind of poise and head-smarts is unique."
With her ankle injury a thing of the past, Twist knows that Novaceanu will have another solid year.
"I'm very proud of what she did this summer to work and heal that ankle up, and I'm just amazed that she could play that confidently without having played all summer," Twist said.
After finishing second in the Mid-American Conference last year, Twist is confident that the Bulls will do well again this year.
"I'm real lucky to have a team like this," she said.
The Bulls hope to continue their winning ways as they travel to Pennsylvania for the Bucknell Invitational today.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
