With a commanding run of serves and seeing-eye shots the competition simply couldn't catch up to, freshman Octavian Stane led the way for UB men's tennis last weekend at the Volkl Shootout at Dartmouth University.
Stane was one of two players who tallied winning records in singles action, and two Bulls doubles teams also came out on top with strong efforts.
Stane accumulated a 3-1 record, notching two wins and one loss in E Division competition, along with one win in the D Division.
Stane's two wins in E Division play came against St. Bonaventure's Jonathan Luce, 6-3, 6-2 and Dartmouth's Rashaad Elder-Bush, 6-2, 6-4, while falling in a close match to Williams' Bryan Monier, 6-3, 7-5.
Stane's other division victory came with a commanding defeat of Dartmouth's Ediz Tiyasan, 6-0, 6-2.
Sophmore Nikesh Singh Panthlia also went 3-1 on the day with all four matches coming in C Division competition. Singh Panthlia formatively beat Andrew Hart of St. Bonaventure, 6-2, 6-0 followed by wins against Dartmouth's David Steinberg, 6-4, 7-5, and Travis Maiers, 7-6(4), 6-1.
In A Division competition, sophomore Mike Rockman went .500 on the day, downing St. Bonaventure's Alejandro Nery and Dartmouth's Mark Brodie. Rockman beat Nery 6-4, 6-2 followed by a sound trouncing of Brodie with margins of 6-0 and 6-1.
Rockman's win over Nery was the second time he beat up on the Bonnies this season, tallying another win against him at the St. Bonaventure Fall Classic on Sept. 11.
Singh Panthlia teamed with Yules Hadisubroto to put forth yet another strong showing in doubles actions as they took home two victories in A Division. Teammates Stane and Mike Zappone also played well as a tandem going 2-1 in the D Division.
The Bulls will open the dual meet portion of the their season at home on Oct. 1 at 11:00 a.m. when they host St. Francis (PA).
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
