Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Navy
Katten Wins Twice but Bucknell Men's Tennis Falls 4-3 to Navy
3/25/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 25, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell men's tennis won a rare doubles point against Navy but couldn't hang on down the singles stretch, falling 4-3 at the Varsity Tennis Courts on Sunday afternoon. Josh Katten (Plainview, N.Y./Plainview JFK) earned two victories, one at No. 2 doubles and another at fourth singles, but the Midshipmen made up ground in their singles matches to extend their series record with the Bison to 35-0.
Katten and Evan Zimmer (Essex Fells, N.J./West Essex) were the first off the court in doubles action, defeating Chris Kenney and Marcus Rebersak, 8-2. The victory gave Zimmer his sixth straight and improved his 2011-12 doubles record to 21-5. Most of the wins came with Gregg Cohenca (Purchase, N.Y./Rye Country Day School), however, as Zimmer and Katten were playing together for the first time this season.
Clinching the doubles point for Bucknell (5-8, 0-1 PL) were Scott Bernstein (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) and Kelly Morque (Rye, N.Y./Rye) at the third position. The Bison duo defeated Nicholas Gutsche and Blake Daniel 8-4.
By winning two of three matches, Bucknell won the doubles point vs. Navy (13-6, 2-0 PL) for just the second time since at least 1953. The last came in 2010, marking what the Bison hope is the start of a change in series momentum. Although the Mids have won all 35 meetings with Bucknell, the Bison have lost by a slim 4-3 margin in each of the last two matches. Bucknell had won more than one point in a match just twice since 2000 prior to the 2011 contest.
Despite the strong start, Bucknell was unable to hang on to the lead through singles action. Katten and Gregory Maxson (Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Hotchkiss School (Conn.)) accounted for the Bison's final two points of the day. Katten defeated Daniel 6-2, 7-5 to earn his fourth straight singles victory. The Bison junior has also won seven of his last eight matches. At 17-7, Katten has more singles wins than any other Bucknellian on the year.
Maxson was a 6-2, 6-1 winner over Chris Kenney at No. 6 singles.
After taking a 3-2 lead in the team score, Bucknell was unable to seal the deal. Cohenca and Kyle Rosen (Armonk, N.Y./Byram Hills) were the last hope for the Bison. Rebersak ultimately defeated Cohenca at the No. 1 position (6-3, 6-4) and Gutsche knocked out Rosen at No. 5 (6-4, 6-3) to give the Midshipmen the team victory.
Bucknell will return to action on Wednesday when it travels to Villanova for a 1 p.m. matchup. The Bison will remain on the road for Georgetown on Friday (2 p.m.) and the completion of the Mount St. Mary's match on Saturday. Bucknell led Mount St. Mary's 1-0 last week when the match was suspended for rain.
Navy 4, Bucknell 3
Doubles
1. Peter McDonald/Calvin Mark (USNA) def. Gregg Cohenca/Aidan Lynch (BU), 8-4
2. Josh Katten/Evan Zimmer (BU) def. Chris Kenney/Marcus Rebersak (USNA), 8-2
3. Scott Bernstein/Kelly Morque (BU) def. Nicholas Gutsche/Blake Daniel (USNA), 8-4
Singles
1. Marcus Rebersak (USNA) def. Gregg Cohenca (BU), 6-3, 6-4
2. Calvin Mark (USNA) def. Evan Zimmer (BU), 6-3, 6-3
3. Peter McDonald (USNA) def. Octavio Canibe (BU), 6-3, 6-1
4. Josh Katten (BU) def. Blake Daniel (USNA), 6-2, 7-5
5. Nicholas Gutsche (USNA) def. Kyle Rosen (BU), 6-4, 6-3
6. Gregory Maxson (BU) def. Chris Kenney (USNA), 6-2, 6-1
