Hall Of Fame Honor Highlights UB Tennis Honors
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo tennis programs were well represented at the inaugural Buffalo Tennis Night, which was held on January 2 at the Transit Valley Country Club. Headlining the night was former men's coach Russ Crispell, who was inducted into the Buffalo Tennis Hall Of Fame. Current and former UB players were also honored for their play in the Western New York area.
Crispell had 140 wins in his 13 seasons as head coach of the Bulls. He was named the PTR Eastern College Coach of the Year in 1996, while also being named the Mid-East Conference Coach of the year and the USPTA Eastern College Coach of the Year in 1998. In addition to his achievements with the Bulls, Crispell developed and managed the University at Buffalo Tennis Club and was the tennis coordinator for the 1993 World University Games, which were in Buffalo.
In addition to announcing the Hall of Fame Class, event creator Todd Miller also announced the USTA Buffalo Tennis Series Player of the Year, which was developed by Miller to provide year-round tournament competition for players of virtually all ages and ability levels.
On the men's side current sophomore Vusa Hove was named the Open Singles Player of the Year. In his freshman season with the Bulls, Hove went 13-3 on the season as he helped lead the Bulls to their first ever Mid-American Conference Championship. This past fall, Vusa went 11-3 in singles while also picking up seven doubles victories.
On the women's side it was a couple of former Bulls that stole the spotlight. The Open Singles Player of the Year was Andreea Novaceanu, who finished her playing career in 2008. Novaceanu is UB's all-time winningest singles player with 83 victories. Smaranda Stan, who concluded her career in 2009, was one half of the Open Mixed Doubles Team of the Year. Stan is third in school history in singles wins and ninth in doubles victories. Also honored was current volunteer assistant coach Carolyn Schopp, who was part of the Open Doubles Team of The Year.
The Buffalo Tennis Hall of Fame was established in 2005 by Miller. The permanent home of the Hall of Fame is at the Miller Tennis Center, which is the indoor home of UB Tennis.