Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Tennis Looks for 11th Straight Victory Over Saint Francis
2/24/2011 7:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 24, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell tennis had a last-minute match added its schedule this week. The Bison will make the trip to Loretto, Pa., to take on Saint Francis (Pa.) on Friday for a 4 p.m. bout. Both the men and women are 10-0 all-time against the Red Flash, and they're hoping that trend continues as they play for their first victory of the spring season.
MEN'S NOTEBOOK
- The Bucknell men took a 6-1 hit against Georgetown in their latest bid for a duals victory. Josh Katten (Plainview, N.Y./Plainview JFK) claimed the only two individual wins for the Bison. After teaming up with Kelly Morque (Rye, N.Y./Rye) to defeat the Hoyas' Tim Walsh and Alex Friedlich 8-1 at No. 2 doubles, the sophomore knocked down Bryan Miller in straight sets at fourth singles. Those marked the first wins of the spring for Katten.
- Katten continues to eye a move onto Bucknell's record books. With a 24-15 career doubles mark, he needs just five more wins to tie for 25th all-time. His 47-37 combined record leaves him six victories shy of the top 35.
- Kyle Rosen (Armonk, N.Y./Byram Hills) had a good look at his first win of the spring when he squared off against Georgetown's Brian Ward. The Bison rookie was barely topped, however, falling 7-5, 7-6 at No. 5 singles.
- When Bucknell hosted the Hoyas, Anton Kovic (Montreal, Quebec/Milton Academy (Mass.)) saw his first singles action since September. The senior has had his playing time limited due to an injury and has earned most of his court time at doubles. Kovic lost 6-2, 6-4 to Charlie Caris at the No. 2 position last Saturday.
- Saint Francis (Pa.) enters Friday's match with a 2-6 duals record this year. After winning 5-2 over Mount St. Mary's back in October, the Red Flash dropped their next five decisions. They ended the skid with a 6-1 win over Chicago State, but returned to the losses column shortly after, falling 6-1 at Youngstown State in their most recent match.
- Bucknell is undefeated against Saint Francis (Pa.) in the teams' 10 meetings. When they played last February, the Bison claimed their first win of the spring, 6-1. All but two of the Red Flash's players from that match return in 2011.
WOMEN'S NOTEBOOK
- The Bucknell women will be looking to get on the winning track after being swept in each of their last two matches. Most recently, the Bison took a 7-0 blow to Binghamton with the Bearcats winning all matches in straight sets.
- Bucknell's last match win came at Duquesne on Feb. 5. Lauren Lucido (Woodstock, Md./St. Paul's School for Girls) defeated Ana Mungo after the Duke retired trailing 6-4, 5-2. Dara Dwojewski (Morristown, N.J./West Morris Mendham) also earned a decision in Pittsburgh, winning 4-6, 6-2, 11-9 over Alrissa Tobe.
- Dwojewksi and Lucido are the only two Bison to claim singles victories this spring. As a team, Bucknell is 3-21 in singles action. Doubles play has been just as much of a struggle. Only Lucido and Daria Tuzhikova (Minsk, Belarus/Gymnasium No. 7) find themselves in the wins column, having defeated their opponents from Pittsburgh in the duals opener. Bucknell is 1-11 at doubles in dual matches this spring.
- When Bucknell makes the trip to Saint Francis on Friday, Tuzhikova has a chance at cracking Bucknell's top 25 for the first time in her career. The sophomore is 25-19 in doubles for her career. One more win will tie her for 23rd all-time. Lauren Rottkamp (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) will be looking for a similar milestone. With a 48-49 combined record, the senior is two wins shy of the top 30.
- Saint Francis is 0-9 in dual action this year. Its closest call was a 6-1 loss at Navy in January. Since then, the Red Flash has dropped seven straight matches by a 7-0 score.
- Like their male counterparts, the Bucknell women are 10-0 all-time against Saint Francis. They last played Sept. 26, 2003, and the Bison ran away with a 7-0 victory. Veronica Brown topped the Red Flash's Amy Coskey 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, but no other Saint Francis player managed to win more than one game in their match.
LOOKING AHEAD
Bucknell women will return to action against St. Bonaventure and Cornell March 5-6. The men will take on Niagara and the Bonnies March 4 and 6. All matches will be on the road. With the Bison's Spring Break trip to Florida scheduled to follow their northern swing, the Orange and Blue won't return to Lewisburg until March 22 when they host Mount St. Mary's.
