Mixed results for Buffalo Tennis teams in respective MAC Tournaments

At a future point when I have more time and less to write, I may go through the calendar and look at UB's 2016 Tennis season, because it sure seems like days like today, when the teams split their collective matches, have been far more common than the best days when both win.

The actual respective fates will probably be of little surprise to those who have followed for the last month. The Women: with only one questionable loss en route to the 5th seed in the conference, easily got revenge for that questionable defeat with a 4-0 thumping over Akron. Meanwhile, the Men, whose pair of wins over Binghamton helped out in a three-way tie, fell to Ball State narrowly, just as they did in the regular season. Their year is over and their quest for back-to-back titles unsuccessful.

Women: Win, 4-0

Doubles:

1. Dayana Agasieva/Laura Holterbosch (UB) def. Ariadna Blinova/Shannon Newnes (AKRON) 6-2
2. Tanja Stojanovska/Margarita Kotok (UB) def. Sophia Geier/Carli Knezevich (AKRON) 6-0
3. Chantal Martinez Blanco/Mercedes Losada Rubio (UB) vs. Karolina Maksimava/Martina Zerbola (AKRON) DNF

Singles:

1. Tanja Stojanovska (UB) def. Ariadna Blinova (AKRON) 6-0, 6-3
2. Chantal Martinez Blanco (UB) vs. Sophia Geier (AKRON) DNF
3. Margarita Kotok (UB) def. Karolina Maksimava (AKRON) 7-5, 6-3
4. Laura Holterbosch (UB) def. Martina Zerbola (AKRON) 6-1, 6-2
5. Sanjana Sudhir (UB) vs. Shannon Newnes (AKRON) DNF
6. Christine Haraldson (UB) vs. Carli Knezevich (AKRON) DNF

Make no mistake about this: this wasn't just a win, it wasn't just a good bounceback from a questionable loss, and it wasn't 'let's just get a postseason win under our belts.' This was an ass-kicking. Without following in real time, it was likely the quickest match of the year for UB. No third sets, only one set where Akron won even four games, and the four points came from doubles and #1, #3, and #4 singles.

Keep in mind that Blinova was the MAC Player of the Year - 22-3 on the season and undefeated against conference competition. Until today, when Stojanovska dismantled her.

Up next for UB is #1 seed Ball State, whose only MAC loss in the regular season came to Buffalo. Feels a little Women's Basketball-ish to me.

Men: Loss, 4-2

Doubles:

1. Stutz/C. Andersen (BSU) def. Hromic/Alvarez (UB), 6-3
2. Arevalillo/Nittolo (UB) def. L. Andersen/Downs (BSU), 6-3
3. Mehta/Miller (UB) def. Helm/M. Guzina (BSU), 6-4

Singles:

1. Lucas Andersen (BSU) def. Sergio Arevalillo (UB), 7-6, 6-3
2. Andrew Stutz (BSU) def. Pablo Alvarez (UB), 6-2, 6-3
3. Nemanja Guzina (BSU) def. Amar Hromic (UB), 2-6, 7-6, 6-4
4. Akhil Mehta (UB) def. Patrick Downs (BSU), 6-2, 6-2
5. Ethan Nittolo (UB) vs. Conner Andersen (BSU), unfinished, 6-7, 7-5, 5-3
6. Marko Guzina (BSU) def. Tony Miller (UB), 6-1, 6-2

Even with the doubles point, a team needs *something* from #1, #2, and #3 singles. Amar Hromic was so close to icing it in straight sets, which would have cruelly set up Ethan Nittolo yet again, but the freshman was up in his third set when Amar went down. It's nice to see Akhil Mehta close his career with a win; he's certainly been overshadowed by the other three seniors lately, but over the last two years picked up key points at key times.

There will be more to say on the whole season in a standalone post in the coming weeks.