Looking to rebound from their first loss of the season, Buffalo's women's tennis team came into Friday's match determined to get back on the winning track and came out a confident squad.
Buffalo (3-1) traveled to Olean, NY last Friday afternoon to take on St. Bonaventure (0-5). They defeated their hosts by a resounding 7-0 margin, taking all nine sets of the competition from the Bonnies.
The Bulls approached this contest an opportunity to bounce back after their sub-par performance against Princeton. To say they did so "successfully" would be an understatement, as the Bulls won all three doubles matches and swept the six singles events on the day.
"You never know how a team is going to react after a loss," said head coach Kathy Twist. "They were disappointed after not playing so well against Princeton."
Twist also praised her players for their ability to move forward and put their past matches behind them.
"We had a great week of practice," she said. "They just played awesome."
Buffalo's first doubles team of sophomore Denise Harijanto and freshman Diana Popescu teamed up for a 8-0 blowout victory over Bonaventure's Anna Perevenzetseva and Yolande Callaghan. Seniors Andreea Novaceanu and Tina Jacob, Buffalo's second doubles pairing, took their match by a comparatively closer score of 8-4. The team of junior Smaranda Stan and sophomore Diana Toia wrapped up double's play by scoring an 8-2 victory over their opponents.
The Bulls continued to further assert their superiority in singles competition. Harijanto was brilliant in her masterpiece of a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Perevenzetseva in the second singles position.
"She just dominated in both her matches," Twist said, expressing the impression Harijanto made with her play in both the doubles and singles formats.
During singles, Novaceanu rolled-over her opponent, cruising to an easy 6-2, 6-0 win. Popescu, who currently holds the team's lead in the singles' victories, added a 6-4, 6-3 triumph to the cause.
Stan took the fourth singles match-up 6-0, 6-2, while Jacob's 6-4, 6-2 win filled the fifth spot. Sophomore Anna Subenkova, who was in the sixth position, faired extremely well in her singles competition debut for the Bulls by winning her match by game scores of 6-4 and 6-1.
Consistency and persistence were high on the Bulls' priority list as Buffalo hoped that controlling their own game would lead to the overall control of all matches.
"Just getting the ball over one more time than they do," Twist said when asked about the team's approach to the match.
Twist also stressed the importance of "managing mistakes" and making sure that little speed-bumps did not turn into bigger, more problematic issues which could cost the team points, games, sets and ultimately, matches.
"Support was good," Twist said, underscoring the importance of team participation on and off the court.
The team's focus, concentration and positive body language were all things that left an impression on the coach, who was encouraged by everything she saw on Friday.
"I have to say that this match was perfect," Twist said.
The Bulls hope to keep the proverbial ball rolling this coming weekend, as they will travel to West Point, NY for two matches. Buffalo will match up with Temple, who are currently on a 5-0 run this spring, on Saturday. The Bulls will face Army (7-2) on Sunday.
"It's going to be a good test," said Twist, explaining that she expects tighter competition in the upcoming matches than that which was offered by Bonaventure. "We match up pretty evenly, but if we have to hit 50 balls over, that's what we're going to do."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
