April 13, 2008

EASTON, Pa. - The Bucknell men's tennis team closed out a two-match weekend against league opponents with a 5-2 win at Lafayette, Sunday afternoon. The Bison move to a season record of 10-8 overall and 3-2 in league play while the Leopards are now 4-5 overall and 1-3 in the Patriot League. Bucknell closed out regular season league play, finishing third behind Army in first and Navy in second. This was the first time Bucknell finished the regular season in the top-three of the Patriot League since 2001. Junior Ryan Sandburg (Orange, Calif./Canyon) was able to clinch the victory for Bucknell, coming from behind in his match at No. 2 singles to win 12 of the last 13 games in the match to defeat Matt McGranaghan by a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, securing the win for Bucknell.

The Bison opened the afternoon with an early lead, taking the doubles point with wins at all three positions. At No. 1, Sandburg and senior Ira Reibeisen (Armonk, N.Y./Rye Country Day-Upper School) defeated Brett Kraft and Lee Kojanis, 8-2, to improve to 9-6 this spring, while at No. 2, junior Jonathan Brenner (Manhassett, N.Y./Chaminade) and freshman Anton Kovic (Montreal, Quebec/Milton Academy (Mass.)), topped Eric Wiley and James Murphy, 8-5, to bring them to 10-7 this season. Rounding out doubles, freshman Mark Malloy (Bronxville, N.Y./Hackley School) and senior Ben Young (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) won against McGranaghan and Kyle McLelland, 8-5, moving to a record of 12-4 overall.

Bucknell won four matches in singles play. First off the court was Malloy, winning at No. 6 against Murphy, 6-1, 6-2, to own a record of 11-6 this season. Next, Reibeisen defeated Wiley at the first position, 6-2, 6-2, to move to a season record of 8-6, before Sandburg secured the win with his victory at the No. 2 position, moving to a record of 11-8 overall. Following Sandburg, Kovic was defeated by Justin Haar at No. 5 by a score of 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4). Brenner picked up a win at the No. 4 position, defeating Kojanis, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, to improve to 9-10 this season. Last off the court was Hascoe, falling to Kraft at the third position by a score of 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.

After this weekend's pair of league matches, Malloy continues to lead the Bison in doubles wins, now with 13 this season, while Young follows with 12. In singles, Malloy and Sandburg boast a team-high 11 wins this spring.

Up next, the Orange and Blue will prepare to face Delaware at home on April 22, and Bloomsburg on the road, April 23, before heading to the Patriot League Tournament in Hamilton, N.Y., April 25-27.

DOUBLES
1. Reibeisen/Sandburg (BU) def. Kraft/Kojanis (LAF) 8-2
2. Brenner/Kovic (BU) def. Wiley/Murphy (LAF) 8-6
3. Malloy/Young (BU) def. McGranaghan/MacLelland (LAF) 8-5

SINGLES
1. Ira Reibeisen (BU) def. Eric Wiley (LAF) 6-2, 6-2
2. Ryan Sandburg (BU) def. Matt McGranaghan (LAF) 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
3. Brett Kraft (LAF) def. Zach Hascoe (BU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
4. Jonathan Brenner (BU) def. Lee Kojanis (LAF) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
5. Justin Haar (LAF) def. Anton Kovic (BU) 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4)
6. Mark Malloy (BU) def. James Murphy (LAF) 6-1, 6-2