Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Penn State
Cohenca Wins at First Singles but Bison Men's Tennis Falls 6-1 at Penn State
2/13/2011 7:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 13, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Gregg Cohenca (Purchase, N.Y./Rye Country Day School) battled at No. 1 singles and the effort paid off as the junior gave Bucknell men's tennis its first singles victory over Penn State since 1986. Cohenca pushed the match to a super tiebreaker to pull out the win, but the rest of the Bison were less lucky as the team lost 6-1 at the Nittany Lions' Indoor Tennis Center on Sunday night.
Cohenca's win at singles was the first for Bucknell against Penn State since the Bison took three matches on April 23, 1986. The victory was also the first at either singles or doubles since Jonathan Brenner and Ryan Sandburg defeated Bradley Hunter and Guillaume St-Maurice 8-7 at No. 2 doubles in 2007. No Bison had succeeded in capturing even one set since that bout.
On Sunday, Cohenca got off to a strong start, but Penn State's Bryan Welnetz got a late break to pull ahead. Welnetz won the final three games of the first set and went up 7-5. Welnetz also won the first game of the second set, but Cohenca rallied for the next six games and evened the match quickly with a 6-1 decision.
Cohenca maintained his momentum in the breaker, ultimately closing out the match by a score of 10-6 in the final frame. The junior is now 6-5 in singles this year and 2-5 at No. 1 singles for his career.
Penn State claimed the remaining matches in straight sets, although Josh Katten (Plainview, N.Y./Plainview JFK) hung around against Chris Young at No. 3 singles. Young broke Katten's serve midway through the first set, but the Bison sophomore kept it close for the rest of the frame. Young held on for a 6-4 decision in the first, then closed things out more easily at 6-2.
Katten also played a close one at third doubles, partnered with Kelly Morque (Rye, N.Y./Rye). Despite the effort, the duo fell 8-5 to Harry Seaborn and Welnetz.
Bucknell is now 0-3 on the year. The Bison will go for their first win of the spring season on Feb. 19 when they host Georgetown at the West Branch Tennis Club in Williamsport, Pa.
Penn State 6, Bucknell 1
Doubles
1. Eddie Bourchier/Russell Bader (PSU) def. Anton Kovic/Evan Zimmer (BU), 8-1
2. Chris Hasyn/Chris Young (PSU) def. Gregg Cohenca/Mark Malloy (BU), 8-3
3. Harry Seaborn/Bryan Welnetz (PSU) def. Josh Katten/Kelly Morque (BU), 8-5
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles
1. Gregg Cohenca (BU) def. Bryan Welnetz (PSU), 5-7, 6-1, 10-6
2. Jason Lee (PSU) def. Evan Zimmer (BU), 6-1, 6-2
3. Chris Young (PSU) def. Josh Katten (BU), 6-4, 6-2
4. Chris Hasyn (PSU) def. Kyle Rosen (BU), 6-2, 6-1
5. Guanhua Chen (PSU) def. Kelly Morque (BU), 6-0, 6-3
6. C.J. Griffin (PSU def. Mark Malloy (BU), 6-1, 6-3
Order of Finish: 4, 2, 3, 1, 5, 6
