BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- In one of the biggest wins in program history, the NJIT women's tennis team defeated the Buffalo Bulls, 5-2, in a neutral site match at Lehigh's Lewis Indoor Tennis Courts.

With Buffalo sporting an overall record of 8-1 entering today's match with NJIT (8-3), the win is one of the best in Highlander history based on opponent winning percentage this late in the season (.889).

"I am so happy and proud of our ladies today for the way they played today. This was such a big win for our tennis program and could be our best ever," head coach Zaki Abdelrahman said after the victory. 

"Buffalo is one of the strongest and well-coached teams in the region and beating them just shows how much we have been developing as a team. I think this win will give our players a lot of confidence that will just help them when they face other top teams in the future. Our players deserve all the credit for how composed and poised they were throughout the match. Everyone fought and gave it their all. Our freshman Aya El-Sayed played her best tennis so far and I am sure she will play a big role in the future for this program."

The highlight win - NJIT's third straight and sixth in seven matches - did not start out on a positive note. Buffalo took the first step toward winning the doubles point by clinching the second flight, 6-2. However, NJIT would win the final two matches (No. 1, 6-2; No. 3, 6-3) and the point to take an early 1-0 lead.

In singles, El-Sayed gave the Highlanders a 2-0 lead with a straight set win at No. 3. Buffalo trimmed the NJIT lead in half by taking the top flight but Mouna Bouzgarrou (straight sets at No. 4) and Joleta Budiman (three sets at No. 2) won the next two flights to clinch the victory. 

Both teams split the remaining two flights with Advaita Saravanan setting the final margin with a three set win at No. 6.

NEXT UP
NJIT will return to action this weekend with a Friday afternoon matchup against Fordham in Newark. First serve at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreation Facility is scheduled for 4 p.m.

NJIT 5, Buffalo 2
3/1/2020 at Bethlehem, PA (Lewis Indoor Tennis Courts)
Singles competition
1. Pia Schwarz (BUF) def. Amira Badawi (NJIT) 7-5, 6-1
2. Joleta Budiman (NJIT) def. Emel Abibula (BUF) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
3. Aya El Sayed (NJIT) def. Gabriella Akopyan (BUF) 6-2, 6-1
4. Mouna Bouzgarrou (NJIT) def. Azra Deniz Comlek (BUF) 7-5, 6-3
5. Ambre Amat (BUF) def. Shamika Dhar (NJIT) 6-4, 6-2
6. Advaita Saravanan (NJIT) def. N. Antoniou-Karademi (BUF) 6-3, 3-6, 10-4

Doubles competition
1. Joleta Budiman/Amira Badawi (NJIT) def. Pia Schwarz/Emel Abibula (BUF) 6-2
2. Gabriella Akopyan/Ambre Amat (BUF) def. Aya El Sayed/Adara Omar (NJIT) 6-1
3. Mouna Bouzgarrou/Advaita Saravanan (NJIT) def. N. Antoniou-Karademi/Azra Deniz Comlek (BUF) 6-3

Match Notes
Buffalo 8-2
NJIT 8-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,1,4,2,5,6)