April 25, 2008

HAMILTON, N.Y. - The 2008 Patriot League tournament for men's tennis is now underway as Bucknell played Lehigh in the first round, winning by a score of 5-1, on Friday afternoon. The Bison entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed, after their highest regular season finish since 2001 and have advanced to the semifinal after today's win.

Bucknell started off the afternoon with a 1-0 advantage over Lehigh, winning doubles matches at all three positions to secure the doubles point. Senior Ira Reibeisen (Armonk, N.Y./Rye Country Upper Day School) junior Ryan Sandburg (Orange, Calif./Canyon) played at No. 1, defeating John Nespolo and Troy List by a score of 8-3. At the second position, junior Jonathan Brenner (Manhasset, N.Y./Chaminade) and sophomore Zach Hascoe (Greenwich, Conn./Brunswick) paired for the first time this season to top John Bolcar and Robert Bolcar, 8-6. Rounding out doubles, freshman Mark Malloy (Bronxville, N.Y./Hackley School) and senior Ben Young (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) finished ahead of Arnaldo Pacheco and Cameron Silbert, 8-6.

To start off singles play, Hascoe was first off the court, picking up a win for Bucknell at the third position, going 6-2, 6-1, over John Bolcar. Junior Daniel Bednarek (Haworth, N.J./Bergen Catholic) brought the score to 3-0, winning at the sixth position against Jon-Michael Caminiti, 6-4, 6-0.

Lehigh picked up its lone win of the day next, with List topping Sandburg at No. 2, by a score of 6-2, 6-0.

Malloy was able to clinch the victory for the Bison, bringing the score to 4-1, with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Chris Collins at No. 5. Reibeisen finished his match at No. 1, just after Malloy, picking up Bucknell's fifth win by defeating Nespoli, 6-1, 6-0. Brenner did not finish his match, but was leading, 6-4, 5-3, over Michael Gordon at the fourth position.

The Bison will face no. 2 seeded Army, who defeated Holy Cross on Friday by a score of 4-0, in the semifinal on Friday at 9 a.m.

Doubles
1. Ira Reibeisen/Ryan Sandburg (BU) def. John Nespoli/Troy List (LU) 8-3
2. Jonathan Brenner/Zach Hascoe (BU) def. John Bolcar/Robert Bolcar (LU) 8-6
3. Mark Malloy/Ben Young (BU) def. Arnaldo Pacheco/Cameron Silbert (LU) 8-6

Singles
1. Ira Reibeisen (BU) def. John Nespoli (LU) 6-1, 6-0
2. Troy List (BU) def. Ryan Sandburg (LU) 6-2, 6-0
3. Zach Hascoe (BU) def. John Bulcar (LU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Jonathan Brenner (BU) vs. Michael Gordon (LU) 6-4, 5-3 DNF
5. Mark Malloy (BU) def. Chris Collins (LU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Daniel Bednarek (BU) def. Jon-Michael Caminiti 6-4, 6-0