Bucknell University Athletics
Big Upset Makes Bucknell Men's Tennis' Cohenca Susquehanna Valley Limo Bison Athlete of the Week
2/14/2011 7:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 14, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - After earning one of the biggest upsets in recent memory for Bucknell men's tennis, Gregg Cohenca (Purchase, N.Y./Rye Country Day School) was named the Susquehanna Valley Limousine Bison Athlete of the Week on Monday. Cohenca pulled out a three-set victory against Penn State's Bryan Welnetz on Sunday night, giving the Bison their first singles win over the Nittany Lions in more than 20 years.
Cohenca's singles win was first for Bucknell since the 1986 squad earned three victories against Penn State in a 5-4 loss. It also gave the Bison their first win of any kind over the Nittany Lions since 2007 when Jonathan Brenner and Ryan Sandburg won 8-7 at No. 2 doubles. Since that 2007 match, Bucknell had been unable to capture even a single set against Penn State until Sunday.
Playing No. 1 singles for just the seventh time in his career, Cohenca found himself in an early hole against Welnetz. The Nittany Lions player, who had a 6-1 dual record entering the match, broke Cohenca's serve late in the first set and closed out the frame by winning the final three games for a 7-5 lead.
Welnetz then won his fourth straight game to open the second set, but Cohenca put a stop to the run in a hurry. The Bison junior did not give up a game for the rest of the set and evened the match with a 6-1 score.
Cohenca maintained control in the super tiebreaker and eventually ended the night with a 10-6 mark in the final frame. With the victory, Cohenca is 6-5 in singles this year and 2-5 at No. 1 singles during his career.
Bucknell ultimately dropped the match to Penn State 6-1 in University Park, Pa. They are now 0-3 on the year.
The Bison Athlete of the Week award is the first of Cohenca's career and the first for men's tennis since at least the 2004-05 season.
Cohenca and the rest of the men's team will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 19 when they host Georgetown. The match is set for 12:30 p.m. at the West Branch Tennis Club in Williamsport, Pa.
