Men’s Tennis Competes At Binghamton Invitational

Friday, September 27

Binghamton, NY

University at Buffalo

Binghamton Invitational

Men’s Tennis Competes At Binghamton Invitational

9/30/2019 12:09:00 PM | Men's Tennis

BINGHAMTON, NY – The University at Buffalo men's tennis team continued its fall season this past weekend as the Bulls traveled to Binghamton for the Binghamton Invitational.

In doubles action, Matthew Johnson and newcomer Greg Hastings won four their five matches, beginning with a 6-2 win over their opponents from Bucknell, couple with a 6-2 win over Army, a 6-1 win over NJIT and a 6-3 win over a duo from the host Bearcats.

In the White Doubles flight, the Bulls rotated three players during the competition. Sophomores Simon Wibler and Jonah Murphy won their first match, 6-4, and then Wibler and freshman D Giritharan won 6-1 against St. Thomas Aquinas College. They concluded the weekend with a 7-5 win over NJIT.

In singles action both Johnson and Giritharan made it to the finals of their respective draws. In the Lane singles draw, Johnson won his opening match over Diego Huttepain of Army, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), 6-4. He followed that up with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Abdallah Fouad of NJIT before falling in three sets in the final.

Giritharan had a pair of straight set wins beginning with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Ammar Fekry of NJIT. He then defeated Will Okerman from Army, 6-2, 6-2, before falling in his final match of the weekend.

Hastings scored a 6-4, 6-3 victory in his first match in the Green singles draw and then completed the weekend with a 6-0, 6-1 victory to go 2-1 on the weekend. Wibler picked up a win in his first match, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 over Josh Smith from NJIT and Murphy also registered a win in his opening match in the White singles draw, 6-3, 6-2 over Juan Bejarano from NJIT.

"This weekend ended up being exactly what the coaching staff predicted," said head coach Lee Nickell. "We had some bright spots but our consistency is not where it needs to be. Matt and D both had solid tournaments, but I know they are disappointed they didn't leave with a title. We will get back it Tuesday and start trying to develop toughness before regionals in October."

The Bulls will return to action when they head to Philadelphia for the ITA Northeast Regionals, beginning on Oct. 17.