March 12, 2008

HILTON HEAD, S.C. - The Bucknell men's tennis team continued spring break play in Hilton Head, S.C. on Wednesday morning, with a 7-0 win over Southern Indiana. The Bison move to 5-3 on the season, winning their third consecutive match, while Southern Indiana now owns a record of 3-4 in 2008.

Senior Ira Reibeisen (Armonk, N.Y./Rye Country Day-Upper School) made his first singles appearance this week, winning his match against Christoph Burger, 6-3, 6-3, to make him 5-2 on the season at the No. 1 position. At No. 2, junior Ryan Sandburg (Orange, Calif./Canyon) improved to 4-5 on the season (3-4 at No. 2), picking up a 6-2, 6-4 win over Nathan Sexton. Junior Jonathan Brenner (Manhasset, N.Y./Chaminade) played at the No. 3 position on Wednesday, topping Andrew McGuire, 6-0, 6-3, to bring him to 5-4 on the season (1-2 at No. 3).

At No. 4 singles, freshman Anton Kovic (Montreal, Quebec/Milton Academy (Mass.)) picked up his fifth win of the season (5-4 overall, 2-1 at No. 4) with a win over Ben Hamm (6-3, 6-4). Freshman Mark Malloy (Bronxville, N.Y./Hackley School) played at the No. 5 position, defeating Dustin Thomas, 6-0, 6-3, to bring him to 5-3 on the season and 4-2 at No. 5. Rounding out singles play, senior Ben Young (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) remains unbeaten this season (3-0) after topping Andrew Bostrom, 6-0, 6-3, at No. 6.

In doubles, Reibeisen and Sandburg improved their record to 5-2 at No. 1, defeating Burger and Sexton, 8-2. At the No. 2 position, Kovic and Brenner also moved to 5-2 on the season with a win against McGuire and Hamm (8-6). Malloy and Young record the most wins by a Bison doubles team this season after finishing 8-0 ahead of Bryan Sulcer and Tim Alcorn, bringing their record to 6-2 in 2008.

After Wednesday's match, Malloy continues to lead the Orange and Blue with doubles wins, picking up seven, while Young follows with six. In singles, Malloy, Brenner, Kovic and Reibeisen have each tallied a team-high five wins this season.

Reibeisen continues to set Bucknell's all-time career victories record (now with 134 wins) and career singles record (now with 72 wins). He ties Sandburg for the career doubles record, now at 62. Sandburg also currently tallies 103 career combined wins and 41 career singles wins.

The Bison will wrap up play at Hilton Head on Friday, March 14, with a match against Winston Salem State at 6 p.m.

DOUBLES
1. Ira Reibeisen / Ryan Sandburg def. Christoph Burger / Nathan Sexton, 8-2
2. Anton Kovic / Jonathan Brenner def. Andrew McGuire / Ben Hamm, 8-6
3. Ben Young / Mark Malloy def. Bryan Sulcer / Tim Alcorn, 8-0

SINGLES
1. Ira Reibeisen def. Christoph Burger, 6-3, 6-3
2. Ryan Sandburg def. Nathan Sexton, 6-2, 6-4
3. Jonathan Brenner def. Andrew McGuire, 6-0, 6-3
4. Anton Kovic def. Ben Hamm, 6-3, 6-4
5. Mark Malloy def. Dustin Thomas, 6-0, 6-3
6. Ben Young def. Andrew Bostrom, 6-0, 6-3