March 25, 2008

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell men's tennis team opened a three-match week with a 7-0 win against Mount St. Mary's at home on Tuesday afternoon. The Bison won their fifth consecutive match, moving to 7-3 on the season, while the Mountaineers now hold a record on 1-9 in 2008. The Orange and Blue will look to play UMBC on Saturday and Patriot League opponent, Navy, on Sunday. Both matches will be at Bucknell's Varsity Tennis Courts.

Tuesday afternoon, junior Ryan Sandburg (Orange, Calif./Canyon) led Bucknell's singles lineup, defeating Fayio Osorio, 6-0, 6-3 at the No. 1 position. Sandburg moved to 6-5 (3-1 at No. 1) this season with the win. At No. 2, sophomore Zach Hascoe (Greenwich, Conn./Brunswick) improved to 5-4 (2-0 at No. 2) with a win against Andrew Marinucci, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 2. In the No. 3 position was junior Jonathan Brenner (Manhasset, N.Y./Chaminade). He remains undefeated at the No. 3 position this season, after topping Patrick Plastow, 6-3, 6-1, to bring his record to 7-4 (4-0 at No. 3).

At the No. 4 singles position, freshman Anton Kovic (Montreal, Quebec/Milton Academy (Mass.)) went 6-2, 6-7(5), 17-15 in the tie-breaker against Thad Mostowtt, to bring his season record to 7-4 (3-1 at No. 4). Freshman Mark Malloy (Bronxville, N.Y./Hackley School) played Rob Dupaya at No. 5 and picked up a 6-0, 6-1 win to improve to 7-3 (5-2 at No. 5) for the season. Rounding out singles play, maintained an undefeated record this season with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Mickey Poirer at No. 6. Young is now 4-0 at the No. 6 position this spring.

In doubles play, senior Ira Reibeisen (Armonk, N.Y./Rye Country Day-Upper School) and Sandburg picked up their seventh win of the season, topping Osorio and Marinucci, 8-2 at No. 1; the pair now owns a season record of 7-2. Brenner and Kovic also moved to a 7-2 record with an 8-5 win over Dupaya and Mostowtt at No. 2. Rounding out doubles play, Young and Malloy defeated Plastow and Poirer at No. 3, 8-0, to also improve to 7-2 in 2008.

After Tuesday afternoon's match, Malloy continues to lead the Bison in doubles wins this season, with eight. Young, Reibeisen, Sandburg, Brenner and Kovic follow, each with seven doubles wins. In singles, Brenner, Kovic and Malloy are tied for a team-high of seven wins.

Reibeisen continues to set Bucknell's all-time combined victories record, now with 136 wins, while Sandburg now tallies 107 career victories, to rank third all-time. Sandburg is one win shy of 2006 graduate Asher Salam, ranked second all-time with 108 wins. Reibeisen owns Bucknell's all-time singles victories record with 72 wins and Sandburg sits at No. 10 with 42 wins. Reibeisen and Sandburg remain tied for the all-time doubles victories record, now with 64.

The Bison will return to action on this weekend, hosting UMBC on Saturday, March 29, at 12 p.m. On Sunday, March 31, Bucknell will begin Patriot League play, facing Navy at home at 1 p.m.

DOUBLES
1. Reibeisen/Sandburg def. Osorio/Marinucci 8-2
2. Brenner/Kovic def. Dupaya/Mostowtt 8-5
3. Young/Malloy def. Plastow/Poirer 8-0

SINGLES
1. Sandburg def. Osorio 6-0, 6-3
2. Hascoe def. Marinucci 6-3, 6-4
3. Brenner def. Plastow 6-3, 6-1
4. Kovic def. Mostowtt 6-2, 6-7(5), 17-15
5. Malloy def. Dupaya 6-0, 6-1
6. Young def. Poirer 6-0, 6-2