Women's Tennis splits weekend matches with ASA College, Youngstown State

Women's Tennis has been in action for a month, but has to date only competed in five matches. Fortunately, they're quickly hitting a stretch that includes two matches a weekend, every weekend, for the next few weeks, and I'd argue recent results are the team's strongest yet.

UB went 1-1 on the weekend, with a 4-3 loss to ASA College, a JUCO from Booklyn, and a 6-1 rout of Youngstown State. Like the men this weekend, both matches were at the Miller Tennis Center.

I'm not entirely sure what to make of the ASA loss, but I do know this: The Avengers are #1 nationally among NJCAA JUCOs in both men's and women's tennis and the women's team had already beaten two NCAA Division I opponents this season prior to taking down the Bulls.

The final 4-3 score is the closest possible margin, but the Avengers had the match in hand with two matches to go. After UB claimed the doubles point (in a sweep, even) and four of the six first sets in singles play, the visitors came storming back. ASA won all six second sets, claiming two matches in two sets and forcing the other four to a third set.

Of those final four, the first two to finish went to ASA and the Avengers clinched at 4-1, but Laura Fernandez and Christine Haraldson did close out the match with UB wins. It's a tough loss, but one that provides a nice measuring stick: ASA also beat Duquesne, who the Bulls will face next weekend, 4-3.

In Saturday's match, UB got back on track, claiming their second win of the year with a 6-1 drubbing of Youngstown State. Only Tanja Stojanovska at #1 singles lost for the Bulls, and she only fell 7-6 in the third set after a five-round tiebreaker. Otherwise, Buffalo claimed the doubles point with ease, and swept YSU in addition to claiming a pair of singles points via forfeit.

The Bulls will split next weekend between home and the road, traveling to Duquesne on Friday before returning to western New York for a match against Niagara on Sunday.

Go Bulls!