Bulls Begin Spring Campaign With 7-0 Sweep Over St. John’s

WILLIAMSVILLE, NY - The University at Buffalo women's tennis team began its spring season with a bang on Friday afternoon with a 7-0 win over St. John's at the Miller Tennis Center.  It was the second straight season that the Bulls have defeated the Red Storm as they improve their record to 1-1 on the season.

The Bulls claimed the doubles point in come from behind fashion after dropping the match at second doubles, 8-5.  The Bulls tied things up with a victory at first doubles as Aleksandra Petrova and Miranda Podlas defeated Nevena Selakovic and Ece Firat, 8-5.  UB then claimed the point at third doubles where sophomores Shelby Bates and Tamara Markovic overcame a 4-1 deficit to defeat Jenny Yonkus and Nakita Austin, 9-7.

The comeback in doubles sparked a spirited effort in singles action.  Markovic had the first win, defeating Diamond Adams, 6-1, 6-1.  Fellow sophomore Kira Golenko put the Bulls up 3-0 with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Yonkus and then Podlas clinched it with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Austin.  Petrova and Popescu then claimed their straight set victories to move the Bulls up 6-0.  Popescu won her match at second singles over Joanna Zwirbulis, 6-2, 6-3 and then Petrova overcame a slow start at first singles, defeating Selakovic, 6-4, 6-2.  Freshman Marta Stoyanova completed the sweep for the Bulls with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win over Firat.

The Bulls are back in action on Sunday morning as they host Pittsburgh at the Miller Tennis Center.  The match will begin at 11:00 am.

Doubles

1. Aleksandra Petrova/Miranda Podlas (UB) def. Nevena Selakovic/Ece Firat (SJU), 8-5

2. Joanna Zwirbulis/Diamond Adams (SJU) def. Diana Popescu/Marta Stoyanova, 8-5

3. Shelby Bates/Tamara Markovic (UB) def. Jenny Yonkus/Nakita Austin (SJU), 9-7

Order of Finish: 2,1,3

Singles

1. Aleksandra Petrova (UB) def. Nevena Selakovic (SJU), 6-4, 6-2

2. Diana Popescu (UB) def. Joanna Zwirbulis (SJU), 6-2, 6-3

3. Marta Stoyanova (UB) def. Ece Firat (SJU), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2

4. Tamara Markovic (UB) def. Diamond Adams (SJU), 6-1, 6-1

5. Kira Golenko (UB) def. Jenny Yonkus (SJU), 6-2, 6-3

6. Miranda Podlas (UB) def. Nakita Austin (SJU), 6-3, 6-4

Order of Finish: 4,5,6,2,1,3