Road Weary, Storm Battered Buzz Sink to 3-2
by Christopher Gerby


After four years of futility, the New York Buzz found themselves in an unusual position on Monday night. Following a 24-16 road thrashing of the St. Louis Aces, the Buzz sported a perfect 3-0 record, good for sole possession of the Eastern Conference lead. With a bout against the Springfield Lasers due the following evening, the Buzz embarked on a late night 3-hour drive to Missouri through a punishing rainstorm. The Buzz persevered upon arrival, with a clutch women's doubles victory giving them a 17-16 lead heading into the final set against the Lasers. However, veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn saved the day on the Lasers' home court, topping Greta Arn of the Buzz 5-2 to give Springfield a come from behind 21-19 win.

Wednesday saw the Buzz scheduled to play their fourth match in as many nights, back home in Schenectady against the Boston Lobsters. Taking to the air this time, the Buzz met with delays and nearly missed their connnecting flight in Cincinnati. The run of misfortune continued when the upstate New York weather proved less than cooperative. Thunderstorms hit in the late afternoon and stayed long enough to make the Buzz's outdoor stadium in Central Park unplayable. Meanwhile, lightning struck the Schenectady Racquet Club, knocking out most of the electricity at the Buzz's traditional indoor venue. The Buzz were therefore essentially back on the road, forced to the unfamiliar confines of the Capitol Region Tennis & Fitness Club in Albany.

As they have throughout the 2007 season, the Buzz started strong. Rik de Voest opened the show by edging burly Amir Hadad 5-4 in men's singles. Greta Arn then defeated lefty Julie Ditty (a member of last year's Buzz squad) by the same 5-4 count. It all went pear shaped from there, however, as a team seemingly well equipped for the doubles events proceeded to drop three such sets in a row. Ditty and Hadad trounced Gabriela Navratilova and Ashley Fisher in the mixed, 5-1. Women's doubles was much of the same, as Ditty and little known Christina Fusano (filling in for Nicole Pratt) were 5-2 victors over Arn and Navratilova.

There would be no miracle comeback for the fatigued Buzz in the evening's final event. "Bad Boys" De Voest and Fisher were able to force a tiebreak against Hadad and Nikita Kryvonos, but the Lobsters prevailed to clinch a 23-17 win overall. With that, the Lobsters improved to 3-1 on the season and passed the Buzz for first place in the East. Following a welcome day of rest, the Buzz will attempt to bounce back against the Philadelphia Freedoms.