The women's tennis team ran through the Cornell Invitational last weekend like Bulls in a china shop. All seven members of the team collected wins in the first and second round, including three individual titles.
During the three-day Invitational, the Bulls squared off against Cornell, Lehigh, Colgate and Army.
"The team is solid this year and we have worked on the consistency over the summer and everyone has showed commitment," said head coach Kathy Twist.
Solid play was seen at all levels of the team and began at singles as juniors Andreea Novaceanu and Smaranda Stan and freshman Diana Toia each claimed singles titles in their respective brackets.
Novaceanu took on competition in the Flight A bracket and defeated two Cornell opponents in the semifinals and finals. In the championship match on Sunday, Novaceanu defeated Kasia Preneta 6-3, 6-1. Earlier in the day during the semifinals she advanced past Tamara John 6-4, 7-5.
"Andrea hit all of her shots well and I wish we had a video tape of the finals because she was on fire," Twist said.
The Bulls' successes continued into the C flight bracket as Stan earned victories over Lehigh's Francesca Murasko-Blank and a 13-11 super-tiebreaker victory over Cornell's Dana Cruite on Saturday.
Stan began her play on Sunday when she faced Cornell's Ashley Ebbert in the semifinals. Ebbert proved no test for Stan as she sailed by her 6-0, 6-3. Stan received the crown after she defeated Cornell's Shayna Miller in a 10-point super-tiebreaker 10-7.
The biggest surprise of the weekend came in the D bracket, as Toia was able to defeat four competitors to take the title. On Saturday she defeated Colgate's Jackie Stimmel and Lehigh's Victoria Vityuk. The next day she reached the finals with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Cornell's Weatherly Schwab and clinched the crown with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Army's Kristin Beehler.
"She was composed and a great find for the team," Twist said. "She's very coachable and I enjoyed watching her play this weekend."
Both of Buffalo's doubles squads reached the finals of their brackets and fell in the championship matches.
Juniors Denise Harijanto and Miglena Nenova were stopped in their tracks in the A bracket doubles title match against Cornell's Catherine Duboc and Miller. The Buffalo duo played a close match with the Ivy League school tandem, but ultimately fell in a tiebreaker, 11-9.
"We are trying a lot of combinations out looking for the best for when we have to face MAC competitors in doubles action," Twist said.
In the B bracket doubles championship, sophomore Natalie Dean and Toia were stopped by Marist's sister duo of Alexandra and Cassandra Strange, 8-4. It was the first time that Dean and Toia were paired up with each other and recorded victories in the quarters and semi-finals.
"Natalie is cool and calm under pressure and I thought she would be a good person to play with Toia," Twist said.
The women's tennis team is coming of its best year in recent memory, having made the championships of the Mid-American Conference and recording an overall record of 16-5. Buffalo fell short of the conference title last year, losing to Western Michigan.
The Bulls have added an addition to its coaching staff in the off-season, adding former captain Kristen Ortman as assistant tennis coach.
"Kristen knows all the players and knows how to fire them all up," Twist said.
The Bulls are in action again this weekend during the Princeton Invitational in New Jersey. The tournament matches start on September 15th and conclude September 17th.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
