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Bulls put up strong fight against Northwestern in NCAA first round

Tie school record for season wins

By Alan Rucker
Northwestern Athletics

The Buffalo Bulls women’s tennis team saw their season come to an end on Friday as the Bulls lost 4-0 to the Northwestern Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. For the first time in school history, the Bulls won multiple sets in singles action, claiming a pair of first sets.

The Wildcats took the doubles point with a pair of 6-0 win at first and third doubles. At first doubles, Northwestern sported the #4 doubles team in the country. They also had the #37 doubles squad, but the Bulls were up for the challenge at second doubles as the squad of Tanja Stojanovska and Anna Savchenko were tied with them 3-3 when doubles action was stopped.

In singles play, Buffalo won two first sets, marking the first time since 2008 that a UB player had won a set in the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore Emel Abibula took her opening set 6-2 at fourth singles and was tied 3-3 in the second when play was stopped. Senior Lolade Ogungbesan won her opening set at third singles in a tiebreaker right before the match ended, putting a positive end to her collegiate career.

Northwestern won matches at one, two, and six in straight sets, clinching the contest.

”While we are upset at the outcome today, I couldn’t be more proud of this group for all they accomplished this season,” said head coach Kristen Maines. “This group set a new standard for Buffalo tennis and we look forward to continuing to build on this tradition.”

The Bulls end the season with a 17-4 record, tying the school record for wins a season. Friday also marked the final collegiate match for Stojanovska and Ogungbesan.

Doubles

  1. #4 Erin Larner/Maddie Lipp (NU) def. Chantal Blanco/Lolade Ogungbesan (BUFF) 6-0
  2. #37 Alex Chatt/Lee Or (NU) vs. Anna Savchenko/Tanja Stojanovska (BUFF) 3-3, unfinished
  3. Julie Byrne/Rheeya Doshi (NU) def. Mercedes Rubio/Sanjana Sudhir (BUFF) 6-0

Singles

  1. #38 Erin Larner (NU) def. Chantal Blanco (BUFF) 6-0, 6-1
  2. #117 Lee Or (NU) def. Tanja Stojanovska (BUFF) 6-0, 6-3
  3. Lolade Ogungbesan (BUFF) led #78 Maddie Lipp (NU) 7-6 (8-6), unfinished
  4. Emel Abibula (BUFF) led Julie Byrne (NU) 6-2, 3-3, unfinished
  5. Alex Chatt (NU) led Sanjana Sudhir (BUFF) 6-3, 5-0, unfinished
  6. Rheeya Doshi (NU) def. Arianna Aldrey (BUFF) 6-1, 6-1

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