Jan. 26, 2013
Results
Results | Season Statistics
BUFFALO, N.Y. – With the match tied at 3-3, the University at Buffalo’s Laura Fernandez was able to outlast Pitt’s Gabrielle Catanzariti in a third set tiebreak on court three to give the Bulls a 4-3 decision on Saturday afternoon at the UB Tennis Center.
Pitt (1-1) suffered its first loss of the season, while Buffalo (1-0) won its season opener.
The Panthers won the doubles point to gain an early 1-0 advantage heading into singles competition. In second doubles, Amanda Wickman and Molly Wickman defeated UB’s Candanoza/Fernandez by a score of 8-4. Catanzariti and Kimmy Borza then captured the doubles point with an 8-6 victory on court three against Markovic/Stoyanova.
The Bulls would respond in singles however, winning on courts 1-4. Amanda Wickman earned a singles victory for Pitt on court six with a straight set 6-0, 6-3 triumph against Marta Stoyanova, while Karma Parbhu rallied in fifth singles to defeat Anamaria Candanoza 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.
But as UB took wins on courts one, two and four, all eyes came down to the finish on court three. After Catanzariti won the first set 7-5, Fernandez took set two 6-4. With the two locked up at 6-6 in the third, Fernandez won the tiebreak 7-4 for the victory.
"It was a tough loss today," interim head coach Michaels Kissell-Eddins said. "Our team played some great tennis early on to take the doubles point and I was proud of our intensity at every position. Everyone came ready to play. Hopefully a loss like this will propel us to work harder and finish stronger next time we find ourselves in that same position."
The Panthers open a four match home-stand next Saturday with Big East foe Georgetown. First serve at the Alpha Tennis and Fitness Center is set for 2 p.m.
