April 10, 2008

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Bucknell men's tennis team picked up its second Patriot League win of the season with a 6-1 victory over Lehigh on Thursday afternoon. The Bison moved to 9-7 on the season and 2-1 in league competition after playing their second of four consecutive matches on the road this week. The Mountain Hawks moved to 5-10 and 1-2 in league play after Thursday's match.

Bucknell took the early lead, winning the doubles point. Junior Jonathan Brenner (Manhasset, N.Y./Chaminade) and freshman Anton Kovic (Montreal, Quebec/Milton Academy (Mass.)) were first off the court at No. 2, winning over Arnaldo Pacheco and Cameron Silbert, moving the pair to 9-6 on the season. Next, freshman Mark Malloy (Bronxville, N.Y./Hackley School) and senior Ben Young (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) defeated J.T. Bolcar and Robert Bolcar at No. 3, to secure the doubles point for Bucknell and to bring the duo to 10-4 this spring. Last off the court was senior Ira Reibeisen (Armonk, N.Y./Rye Country Day-Upper School) and junior Ryan Sandburg (Orange, Calif./Canyon). The pair was defeated by John Nespoli and Troy List at No. 1, moving Reibeisen and Sandburg to a record of 9-6.

In singles play, Bucknell won the first five matches off the court. First off, was Malloy at No. 6, he defeated Chris Collins, 6-1, 6-2, to move to 9-6 overall and 2-3 at No. 6, while sophomore Zach Hascoe (Greenwich, Conn./Brunswick) was next, topping J.T. Boclar, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 3 to move to 9-6 overall and 6-6 at No. 3.

At No. 5, Kovic improved to 8-8 overall and 2-3 at the fifth position after defeating Mike Gordon by a score of 6-2, 6-4. Sandburg improved to 10-7 overall and 6-6 at No. 2 with a win over List, 6-2, 2-6, 10-3, at the No. 2 spot, while Reibeisen picked up a win over Nespoli, 6-1, 7-5, at No. 1, to move to 7-5 overall. Last off the court was Brenner at No. 4, falling to Pacheco by a score of 5-7, 7-6, 10-7, to bring his record to 8-9 overall and 3-8 at No. 4.

The Bison are set to play two more league matches this weekend. Going into this weekend's play, Sandburg leads the Orange and Blue in singles wins with ten total. In doubles, Malloy leads the way with 11 wins total, while Young follows with 10.

Bucknell will travel to West Point, N.Y., to take on Army at 12 p.m., Saturday, April 12. The Bison will then go to Easton, Pa. to take on Lafayette at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, for their final match this week.

Doubles
1. Nespoli/List (LU) def. Reibeisen/Sandburg (BU) 8-6
2. Kovic/Brenner (BU) def. Silbert/Pacheco (LU) 8-5
3. Malloy/Young (BU) def. Bolcar/Bolcar (LU) 8-6

Singles
1. Ira Reibeisen (BU) def. John Nespoli (LU) 6-1, 7-5
2. Ryan Sandburg (BU) def. Troy List (LU) 6-2, 2-6, 10-3
3. Zach Hascoe (BU) def. J.T. Boclar (LU) 6-1, 6-0
4. Arnaldo Pacheco (LU) def. Jonathan Brenner (BU) 5-7, 7-6, 10-7
5. Anton Kovic (BU) def. Mike Gordon (LU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Mark Malloy (BU) def. Chris Collins (LU) 6-1, 6-2