April 2, 2008

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell men's tennis team fell to Villanova, 4-3, on Wednesday afternoon, opening a two-match week on the road. The Bison moved to 7-6 on the season after Wednesday's match and are now prepared to travel to Colgate on Saturday, for their second Patriot League match of the season. Bucknell is currently 0-1 in league play.

Junior Ryan Sandburg (Orange, Calif./Canyon) and senior Ira Reibeisen (Armonk, N.Y./Rye Country Day-Upper School) moved to 9-3 on the season, picking up an 8-2 win against Dimitri Chimerakis and Brian Maher at the No. 1 doubles position. At the No. 2 spot, junior Jonathan Brenner (Manhasset, N.Y./Chaminade) and freshman Anton Kovic (Montreal, Quebec/Milton Academy (Mass.)) fell to Trenton Alenik and John Drosik, 8-3. The pair now hold a season record of 7-5.

Senior Ben Young (New Canaan, Conn,/New Canaan) and freshman Mark Malloy (Bronxville, N.Y./Hackley School) were able to secure the doubles point for the Bison, winning at the No. 3 position. The pair moved to 9-3 this spring, defeating David Shaheen and Michael Miller, 8-9 (9) 9-7 in a tie-breaker.

In singles play, Bucknell picked up wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Sandburg was victorious over Chimerakis, 6-1, 6-3, to bring his record to 8-6 (4-1 at No. 1 this season). Sophomore Zach Hascoe (Greenwich, Conn./Brunswick) improved to 7-5 and remained undefeated at No. 2 (3-0) with a 7-6 (2), 6-7 (3), 7-5 win over Maher.

At No. 3, Brenner fell to Alenik by a score of 6-1, 6-2 to move his season record to 7-7 (4-1 at No. 3), while Kovic moved to 7-6 (3-2) at No. 4 with a 6-2, 7-5 loss against Shaheen. Rounding out singles play, Malloy was defeated by Brett Tobin at No. 5, 6-0, 6-4, moving him to 7-5 (5-3 at No. 5) and Young dropped his No. 6 match to Alex Leeser, 6-2, 6-1, to move to 4-1 this spring.

After Bucknell's match against Villanova, Malloy continues to lead the Bison in doubles wins this season, with ten. Young, Reibeisen and Sandburg follow, each with nine doubles wins. Sandburg now leads Bucknell in singles wins, adding his eighth of the season against the Wildcats.

Reibeisen continues to set Bucknell's all-time combined victories record, now with 139 wins, while Sandburg now tallies 111 career victories for second all-time. Reibeisen owns Bucknell's all-time singles victories record with 73 wins and Sandburg sits at No. 7 with 45 wins. Reibeisen and Sandburg remain tied for the all-time doubles victories record, now with 66. Brenner follows at No. 3 for career doubles wins, with 55.

The Bison are now set to take on the Colgate Raiders, this Saturday, April 5, at 12 p.m. in Ithaca, N.Y.

DOUBLES
1. Reibeisen/Sandburg def. Chimerakis/Maher, 8-2
2. Alenik/Drosik def. Brenner/Kovic, 8-3
3. Young/Malloy def.Shaheen/Miller, 8-9 (8), 9-7

SINGLES
1. Sandburg def.Chimerakis 6-1, 6-3
2. Hascoe def. Maher 7-6 (2), 6-7 (3), 7-5
3. Alenik def. Brenner 6-1, 6-2
4. Shaheen def. Kovic 6-2, 7-5
5. Tobin def. Malloy 6-0, 6-4
6. Leeser def. Young 6-2, 6-1