WILLIAMSVILLE, NY – A valiant comeback effort fell short Saturday afternoon as the University at Buffalo women's tennis team dropped a 4-3 decision to visiting Syracuse at the Miller Tennis Center. The Bulls are now 3-2 while the Orange are 8-2.
The final three singles matches all went to third sets as the Bulls mounted a comeback after falling behind, 3-1, with three matches outstanding. UB closed the gap with wins at second and fifth singles.Diana Popescu blanked Syracuse's Emily Harman in the third set en route to a 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-0 victory. Freshman Tamara Markovic tied the match at 3-3 with her three-set win over Simone Kalhorn, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
The comeback attempt was foiled as Syracuse scored the final win at fourth singles. Alessondra Parra defeated UB's Kira Golenko 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.
"I was pleased with how we did against a very good Syracuse team," said head coach Kathy Twist. "Everybody fought and the matches were tough."
The Bulls return to the courts with three matches in Puerto Rico starting on March 8 against James Madison. UB will also face Boston University and Bryant while in Puerto Rico.
Syracuse 4, Buffalo 3
Doubles
1 Aleksandra Petrova/Denise Harijanto (UB) d. Emily Harman/Chelsea
Jones (SU), 8-5
2 Tamara Markovic/Kira Golenko (UB) d. CC Sardinha/Simone Kalhorn
(SU), 9-7
3 Alessondra Parra/Eleanor Peters (SU) d. Diana Toia/Diana Popescu
(UB), 8-2
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
1 CC Sardinha (SU) d. Denise Harijanto (UB), 6-2, 6-4
2 Diana Popescu (UB) d. Emily Harman (SU), 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-0
3 Eleanor Peters (SU) d. Aleksandra Petrova (UB), 6-4, 6-2
4 Alessondra Parra (SU) d. Kira Golenko (UB), 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
5 Tamara Markovic (UB) d. Simone Kalhorn (SU), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
6 Christina Tan (SU) d. Diana Toia (UB), 6-3, 6-1
E Chelsea Jones (SU) d. Anna Subenkova (UB), 8-5
Order of finish: 6, 3, 1, 2, 5, 4