After two straight losses, the men's tennis team showed last weekend that they can compete on the same level as some of the top teams in the nation.
At the Army Winter Invitational, the Bulls scored a 9-9 record in singles action against a group of schools including Connecticut, Rutgers, Army, Hartford and St. Joseph's.
With three matches each day, the tournament proved to be not just a physical battle for the Bulls, but a mental one as well, as most of their singles matches went the distance.
The Bulls' 4-2 win over Hartford was led by UB's number one seed, Nick Zieziula, who defeated Pat Flint after a long fight in the third set super tiebreaker, 11-9. Zieziula didn't let the match slip out of his hands after losing the first set in another tiebreaker, 12-10. The senior was able to pull out the second set, 6-4.
"It was great to see Nick out there battling it out again like he usually does. Last week he had a tight match with Manhattan but came up just short so it was good to see him pull out two tough third-set breakers like he did," said Zieziula's teammate, Mike Rockman.
At number two singles, Rockman claimed a victory in two sets against Hartford's Doruk Baglan 7-6 (6), 6-4.
UB's number four and five seeds, Yules Hadisubroto and Alejandro Galindo, claimed the additional two UB victories. Both athletes rolled over their opponents in straight sets.
Splitting their matches 3-3 against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Bulls Rockman, Hadisubroto, and Galindo each added another singles win to their records.
Rockman had to go the distance a second time to finally beat Gordie Milchutsky 4-6, 6-4, 11-9. Meanwhile, Hadisubroto defeated Jonathan Wanono at number four singles after winning the first set in the tiebreaker 7-5, dropping the second set 1-6, finally picking up the super tiebreaker 10-8.
To gain the third singles victory for the Bulls, UB's newcomer Galindo defeated Raphael Goldwaser in the super tiebreaker 6-7, 6-1, and 10-4.
The Bulls' number two, Rockman, was proud of his newest teammate.
"Alejandro proved that he belongs on this team even though he had a rough start in his first match against Army. He fought back in his next two matches and won them both, and in doubles he and Yules lost two close tiebreakers. We know he's a fighter out there and expect big things from him in the future," said Rockman.
Against Army's Black Knights, UB scored wins at number one with victories recorded by Zieziula and at number six thanks to the efforts of Matt Kennedy.
At number one, Zieziula had to come back in the match after losing the second set 1-6, earning a victory in the super tiebreaker against John Houghton (6-4, 1-6, 10-6). At number six Kennedy scored yet another super tiebreaker win for the Bulls by defeating Robbie Wald 6-7, 6-4, 10-8.
The Bulls' weakness was exposed once again in the doubles bracket. Zieziula and Josh Liederman scored the Bulls' only win against St. Joseph's at number one.
"This past weekend was probably the best preparation we could have had before our first MAC match. Having come out on top in two of the three singles matches, really gives us confidence as we approach our match against Western Michigan this Friday," said Rockman.
The Bulls head to Western Michigan next Friday to kick off their Mid-American Conference schedule.
