Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Tennis Holds Position in Patriot League Preseason Poll
1/20/2012 7:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Jan. 20, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell's women's team was picked third while the men were selected fourth in the latest edition of the Patriot League Tennis Preseason Poll, it was announced on Friday. The Bison will pick up their spring season the first week in February when they take on Saint Francis (Pa.) and Pittsburgh in a pair of weekend matches.
The women's squad was picked third with 51 points in the preseason vote. They trailed first-place Army, which had 71 points and 11 first-place votes, and Navy with 62 points and three first-place votes. The poll mirrored the 2010-11 final standings as Lehigh (40 points), Colgate (36), Lafayette (22) and Holy Cross (12) rounded out the bottom four.
The men's poll was also identical to last year's final standings. Ahead of Bucknell, which totaled 40 points, was Army, Navy and Lehigh. The Black Knights had a strong lead over its league foes with 72 points and 12 first-place votes, while Navy was second with 59 points and two first place votes. Lehigh claimed 51 points. Colgate (38), Lafayette (22) and Holy Cross (12) completed the poll.
The preseason poll is determined by a vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors who cannot vote for their own teams.
Bucknell struggled to get on a roll during the fall portion of the 2011-12 season as tournaments were repeated called due to rain. After finally getting some match play, Octavio Canibe (Spring, Texas/John Cooper School) and Chris Tortora (West Orange, N.Y./Seton Hall Prep) both had 10-2 singles records to lead the team in wins. Josh Katten (Plainview, N.Y./Plainview JFK) and Kelly Morque (Rye, N.Y./Rye) were 11-2 in doubles together, while Gregg Cohenca (Purchase, N.Y./Rye Country Day School) and Even Zimmer (Essex Fells, N.J./West Essex) were 10-3 with two tournament titles to their name.
Elena Vidrascu (Rochester, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland) had the team high in singles victories with a 4-3 record. Jen Bush (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) and Alyssa McAndrew (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) teamed up for a 7-1 record in doubles and the Flight B Championship title at the Bucknell Invitational in September.
The men's team will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 3 when they make the trip to Saint Francis (Pa.) for a 5 p.m. match in Loretto, Pa. The women will open their spring season with Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4 at the West Branch Tennis Club in Williamsport, Pa.
Men's Preseason Poll
1. Army – 72 points (12 first-place votes)
2. Navy – 59 (2)
3. Lehigh – 51
4. Bucknell – 40
5. Colgate – 38
6. Lafayette – 22
7. Holy Cross – 12
Women's Preseason Poll
1. Army – 71 (11)
2. Navy – 62 (3)
3. Bucknell – 51
4. Lehigh – 40
5. Colgate – 36
6. Lafayette – 22
7. Holy Cross – 12
