After a decent showing in non-conference play, the women's tennis program has begun their quest in MAC play.
As usual, things have gotten ugly at a rapid pace.
On Friday, the Bulls fell 6-1 to the RedHawks (6-8, 1-1 MAC) and on the next day Buffalo (6-8, 0-4) fell again, this time getting blanked by Marshall (8-6, 3-0 MAC) in a 7-0 rout.
Marshall placed first last year at the MAC Championship, and are undefeated in the MAC so far this year.
"Marshall is a powerhouse, they are very good competition," said UB head coach Kathy Twist.
Marshall's No. 17 ranked first doubles team of Jessica Johnson and Danielle Hock bested Buffalo's top efforts by senior Karen Maynard and freshman Kristen Ortman by a score of 8-2.
"The girls went in knowing that these were the best players they were probably going to see, and they did very well," said Twist.
Marshall's Joelle Good was honored as Women's Tennis Player of the Week on March 25, shortly before going up against UB sophomore Michaela Kollarova in the No. 3 singles match. Good won the match, but not without Kollarova winning a few games. The final score read 6-3, 6-3.
"We were able to keep up with them," said Twist. "The scores don't show that there were a lot of advantages and deuces. Unfortunately it is the last point that dictates where the numbers go."
The lone victory for the Bulls from this weekend came from number two singles Ortman. She defeated Miami's Grace Cascarilla in three sets, winning 6-4, losing 3-6, and then winning the tiebreaker 10-7. It was Ortman's first MAC victory.
"It showed that she has what you need to compete in this league," said Twist.
Against Miami, Maynard lost to Megan Zimpfer 6-1, 6-2 at the first singles spot. At No. 3 singles, Kollarova was beaten by Nancy Wiegand 6-1, 6-1. The fourth singles match was won by Remy Swain who bested Buffalo sophomore Erica Zielinski by 6-1, 6-0. UB junior Lisa Wittman lost the fifth singles match to Ilze Meyer 6-0, 6-1. And at No. 6, sophomore Wendy Rose was swept by Maura Trauernicht 6-0, 6-0.
Though Rose did not win any games against Trauernicht, she did win some against Marshall's Olivia Hill the next day. She lost the close match 6-4, 6-3 at the six spot.
"Rose was a pleasant surprise," said Twist. "She has been really working on her game, trying to drive the ball a little harder, and get as many balls back as she can, to try to just frustrate her opponent. She brings the same tenacity to the court that she studies with. I was really impressed with her."
On the doubles courts, UB dropped three decisions. First, Maynard and Ortman lost to Miami's Zimpfer and Swain 8-3. At the two spot, Kollarova and Zielinsiki were defeated by Wiegand and Meyer 8-3. And finally in the third doubles spot, the team of Wittman and sophomore Sheri Ugowski were shut out 8-0 by Cascarilla and Trauernicht.
Completing their weekend road swing at Marshall, UB second doubles team Kollarova and Zielinski failed to win a game against Ashley Kroh and Lille Nzudie and Buffalo's third doubles, Wittman and Rose, lost by a score of 8-3 to Joelle Good and Holly Asel.
The Bulls were defeated at all six singles positions including first singles where Maynard was overpowered by Marshall's Johnson 6-1, 6-1. The Bulls' Ortman was beaten by Hock 6-2, 6-0. At number four Zielinski was blanked 6-0, 6-0 by MU's Asel and the five match was won by Meghan Skalsky of Marshall, besting Wittman 6-0, 6-1.
"I think they saw that they can go along with these teams, I think it was a real eye-opener for them," said Twist. "These are the best of the best and they were able to stay in the match and bring it close. I think it was a real eye-opener that we're going to take with us for the rest of the five matches."
The team will head to Akron next for another MAC encounter on Friday.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
