A team doesn't often go into a match leading 2-0 before even stepping off the bus, but this was the case this past Saturday as the Bulls were handed two victories against Mid-American Conference opponent Northern Illinois University. The Huskies were forced to forfeit two matches because it only has four healthy players.
The Bulls were also able to pull out four more wins to defeat NIU 6-1 and only suffered a loss at No. 1 singles as sophomore Andreea Novaceanu's 11-match win streak came to a close. Novaceanu had not lost a match since Feb. 10 when the Bulls faced Syracuse.
"It's dangerous playing a team with only four healthy players because you know you have the advantage but you need to keep playing hard and you need to build on the forfeits," said head coach Kathy Twist.
On Saturday, Novaceanu was matched up against Northern Illinois freshman star Jenny Eder and struggled in the first set falling to the Husky 6-2. Novaceanu was able to bounce back and forced the match into a second set tie-breaker but was unable to finish Eder and lost the set and match 6-2, 7-6.
"I told her she performed well, but she just had a day when things did not go her way and it happens," Twist said.
The Bulls (12-4, 4-2 MAC) looked flawless in the rest of the matches against Northern Illinois University (4-17, 0-6 MAC) and were able to score three more victories in singles play. At No. 2 singles, junior Miglena Nenova defeated the Huskies' Dora Delgadillo 6-0, 6-0.
Nenova has seen action in both No. 1 and 2 singles this year and has a singles record of 14-8.
At No. 3 singles sophomore Natalie Dean was also able to post her 14th win of the season defeating the Huskies Meghan Brooks. Dean easily won the first set, and a late charge in the second set by Brooks was not enough. Dean won by a final score of 6-1, 6-3.
Sophomores Smaranda Stan and Tina Jacob were credited with wins due to the forfeits. The match helped Stan's record making it 9-2 and Jacob with the win jumps to 14-4.
Like singles, a point was automatically given to the Bulls as the Huskies were forced to forfeit one doubles match. This situation meant that the Bulls were forced to win at least one out of the two doubles matches to secure the meet.
During first doubles, the Bulls struggled as the tandem of Novaceanu and Jacob fell to Edner and Delgadillo 8-2, the Bulls' tandem record fell to 15-4 with the loss. The pressure and match of the meet came at number two doubles as Ortman and Nenova met the Huskies Brooks and Nagel.
The games went back and fourth between both teams, but the senior Ortman was able to seal the deal and help win it for the Bulls as the tandem dominated the last three games and won commandingly, 8-5.
"Kristen has more courage than most people," Twist said. "She is a great captain and a great leader."
Ortman has helped lead the Bulls to its fourth straight win and a record breaking 12th victory of the season for the Bulls, who were 8-7 last season.
"My players are just as hard working as the ones in the past except these girls are more talented," Twist said. "You need to commit to be a champion and so far they have been committed."
The Bulls finish the regular season this weekend with two home matches, the Bulls host second-place Miami (Ohio) on Friday and with a win, will be tied for the No. 2 spot in the MAC overall.
Buffalo will then host Ball State on Saturday in the final match of the regular season. The matches are scheduled for 2 p.m. starts, and will be held at the University Tennis Club.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
