COMMENTARY
Stan’s will finds a way for UB tennis
Bob DiCesare
Updated: 04/30/08 6:56 AM
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- UB tennis players, from left, Andreea Novaceanu, Tina Jacob and Smaranda Stan show off the Mid-American Conference championship trophy before the draw for the NCAA Tournament was announced Tuesday. UB plays host UCLA on May 9 in the regional that includes Long Beach State and Denver.
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They don’t say that Smaranda Stan is as tough as nails. They say the nails might be as tough as Stan.
They don’t say Stan is cooler than a cucumber. They say maybe a week in the freezer gives the cucumber half a chance.
Stan is Michael Jordan with the ball in the waning seconds, Reggie Jackson at bat in the ninth. The bigger the moment the greater the likelihood that this effervescent junior from Romania perpetuates her reputation as a tennis player who won’t be beat, no way, no how.
“She’s a person that never doubts that she’s going to win,” said Kellie Peiper, a sports psychologist in the UB athletic department. “Regardless what the numbers show and where she’s at in the match, she has it in her mind that she’s pushing forward and she’s going to win.”
“I walk on the court,” Stan said, “knowing I’m going to win.”
Gang way. There are many reasons the women’s tennis squad became the first University at Buffalo sports team to earn an NCAA Tournament berth at the Division I level. It would take a trip up and down the roster to give all the deserving their due. But as this accomplishment settles into UB lore Stan’s is the name that will repeatedly resurface.
Victories over Toledo (4-3) and Miami (4-2), both of them closed out by Stan, propelled the Bulls to the Mid- American Conference championship match against Western Michigan, the league’s dominant force. The Broncos rank 60th in the national poll, were riding a 32-game conference winning streak, led 3-0 over the Bulls with four singles matches ongoing. First to four points takes the title.
UB wins by Diana Popescu at third singles, Diana Toia at fifth and Denise Harijanto at second threw the ball into Stan’s court with her trailing, 4-2, in the third and final set at fourth singles.
“In the beginning there was a little bit of fear because I knew it’s all me,” Stan said. “I knew I would have to do it. I thought about previous days. I clinched the matches in the first round and the second round. It was like, I wanted to be the last one. I’m like, ‘If I’m the last one we’re going to win this.’ It gave me power to come back 4-2 down.”
Stan won three straight games, then squandered three straight championship points. Her opponent, it seemed, had a stiff will of her own.
“I looked at her and she was like way younger than me,” Stan said. “I’m like, ‘I’m more mature. I’m more confident.’ And I just had the power to finish. It’s an inside strength. I think I have it from my mom, and I do believe in myself. I have an amazing record this year (27-4) and winning so many matches gave me a lot of confidence. It was a great feeling, just being there and knowing I’m going to do it.”
Stan’s 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 win unleashed a crazy celebration on the UB courts. Coach Kathy Twist just up and disappeared for a spell, later admitting she needed to regain her composure. The Bulls had been picked to win the conference in the coaches’ preseason poll only to falter much of the season and receive the tournament’s sixth seed.
“It’s better like this, struggling through the whole season and winning at the end, than winning the whole season and losing at the end,” Stan said. “That’s what happened the last two years.”
“And I think as far as mental toughness on the team she’s a leader and she brings the other girls along with her,” Peiper said.
And now she’s taking them all the way to UCLA.
