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Bulls Take Undefeated Mark Into Saturday's MAC Opener
3/21/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's tennis team begins Mid-American Conference play this Saturday afternoon when it hosts Northern Illinois at the Miller Tennis Center. The Bulls are currently 9-0 on the season, just one of two undefeated teams left in the nation according to results reported to the ITA. The other school is Cornell, which is currently 10-0.
Buffalo is coming off a solid Spring Break road trip in which it defeated Louisiana-Lafayette and the University of New Orleans. After a hard-fought 4-3 win over the Ragin' Cajuns, UB swept past the Privateers, 7-0.
It has been a total team effort for Buffalo that has all six players currently in the singles lineup with six victories of more. Junior Miranda Podlas, who has been playing the majority of the season at second singles, is 13-1 on the year, including a perfect 9-0 in dual competition. Senior Tamara Markovic is also undefeated in dual competition and is 10-3 on the year as she split time at both third and fourth singles. Fellow junior Tanvi Shah has anchored the team at the top of the lineup and is 9-4 on the year and 8-1 in dual play, all at first singles.
The Bulls have also gotten a spark from a pair of newcomers in sophomore transfer Laura Fernandez and freshman Gopika Kapoor, who have each been fixtures in the lineup. Fernandez has seen more time at third singles as off late and is 8-4 on the year, while Kapoor has overcome an early-season injury and is 7-3 in singles play, including 7-0 in dual action. Junior Anamaria Candanoza has also had a solid Spring and is currently 5-3 in dual competition.
UB has also been strong in doubles this season, losing the double point just twice in nine matches. UB's number one squad of Shah and Podlas are 12-2 this year, including 8-1 in dual competition. Markovic and junior Marta Stoyanova have spent more time together at the third doubles spot as of late and are currently 4-1 together on the year, all coming in dual matches. In UB's last match, Candanoza and Kapoor teamed up at second doubles and came away with an 8-1 victory.
Northern Illinois has also gotten off to a solid start as the Huskies are 14-2 heading into their MAC opener on Friday afternoon at Akron. The Bulls and Huskies are two of three teams in the MAC with two losses or less as the Bowling Green Falcons enter MAC play at 11-1.
In addition to Saturday's home match, UB will also host Western Michigan, Bowling Green and Akron this Spring, while heading on the road to Miami (OH), Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Toledo. The 2013 MAC Tournament will be held at Ball State April 26-28.
Attendance to this weekend's match is free and the Miller Tennis Center is located at 5959 Sheridan Dr, Williamsville, NY 14221.
