By Dave Hunter (dhunter)
Sophomore Nikou posts 15th win.....
Muncie, Ind., Apr. 14 – The Vincennes University tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision to the University of Buffalo Monday afternoon at the Ball State Cardinal Creek Tennis Center in Muncie, Ind.
The Trailblazers were 4-2 this season against NCAA Division I opponents.
“It was a fun match with a lot of energy on both sides,” said VU coach Ron Albers. “It gave us an idea of what we need to work on and where we are right now.”
Buffalo (6-16) captured the first point by winning two of the three doubles matches then sealed the outcome with victories in the first three singles matches off the court.
“We started out strong in doubles, played well and had moments of opportunity,” Albers said. “But, we came out a little flat in singles and got down 3-0 quickly. That puts a lot of pressure on the rest of the team.
The decisive match was at second singles when Nikesh Singh Panthlia defeated David Jackson, 6-2, 7-6(3).
“They dominated us at No. 3 and 5,” Albers said. “We had chances at the other spots, but didn’t play well in big points against a very good team.”
The Trailblazers (24-4) split the final three singles matches with sophomore Binky Nikou (15-6) grinding-out a 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 win over Octavian Stane at fourth singles.
“Jackson had break points in the second set, (Jaime) Esteban had five match points and (Chuck) Hodge had chances to get back in the third set,” Albers said. “To their credit, they played the big points better and that was the difference in the match.”
The 24-4 Trailblazers host Division III, No. 14-ranked DePauw at 4:30 p.m. next Monday afternoon.
Buffalo 6, Vincennes 1
Doubles
1 Kirill Kolomyts/Marcelo Mazzetto (UB) d. David Jackson/Chris King, 8-5
2 Binky Nikou/Justin Harlow (VU) d. Octavian Stane/Juan Carlos Wynter, 8-7 (3)
3 Alexis Lluis/Nikesh Singh Panthlia (UB) d. Jaime Esteban/Tony Kanavos, 8-5
Order of finish: 1 3 2
Singles
1 Marcelo Mazzetto (UB) d. Jaime Esteban, 6-3, 6-7 (8), 1-0 (12)
2 Nikesh Singh Panthlia (UB) d. David Jackson, 6-2, 7-6 (3)
3 Kiril Kolomyts (UB) d. Chris King, 6-0, 6-0
4 Binky Nikou (VU) d. Octavian Stane, 6-4, 0-6, 6-4
5 Juan Carlos Wynter (UB) d. Justin Harlow, 6-0, 6-2
6 Ezra Bernstein (UB) d. Charles Hodge, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
Order of finish: 3 5 2 6 4 1
Ex: Alexis Lluis (UB) d. McKenzie Bean, 6-2, 6-0
