Bucknell University
Lafayette
Bison Men's Tennis Dominates Lafayette in 6-1 Victory
4/15/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 15, 2012
EASTON, Pa. - Bucknell men's tennis evened its Patriot League record and earned its most convincing victory in nearly a month with a 6-1 win over Lafayette in Easton, Pa., on Sunday afternoon. The Bison swept doubles action then sailed their way through singles play to improve to 7-12 overall and 2-2 in the Patriot League. Bucknell is now tied for third in the league standings with Lehigh. The Bison and the Mountain Hawks will square off in their final regular-season conference match on Tuesday in Bethlehem, Pa.
On Sunday against Lafayette, Bucknell took the quick lead by winning all three doubles matches. The Bison's No. 1 doubles tandem of Gregg Cohenca and Aiden Lynch and their No. 3 team of Scott Bernstein and Kelly Morque both won by a score of 8-4. Evan Zimmer and Josh Katten also cruised through at No. 2, 8-2. It was the first time since facing Hofstra on Feb. 18 that the Bison had swept doubles play.
With his win at No. 1, Cohenca is now 68-46 in his doubles career. That moves him into sole possession of third all-time at Bucknell trailing only Ryan Sandburg (87-50) and Ira Reibeisen (69-60) in doubles wins.
The momentum continued into singles where Bucknell won five of six matches. Four of those victories came in straight sets, including Cohenca's 6-3, 6-3 decision over Doug Gallagher at the No. 1 position. The win was Cohenca's first at singles in eight matches.
Katten stayed undefeated in singles against Patriot League foes with a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Brandon Goldstein. The junior is the only Bison to beat each of his four league opponents in singles this spring.
Also winning their singles matches were Zimmer 7-5, 6-1 over Will Mercorella at No. 2, Morque 6-0, 6-2 over James Oliver at No. 4 and Gregory Maxson 6-4, 6-2 over Scott Gelbman at No. 6.
Lafayette's lone win came at fifth singles, but Bucknell still made the Leopards work for that one. The Bison's Jonathan DeFrancesch won the first set over Andrew Morris 6-1. Morris was then forced to fight back and needed a tiebreaker to even the match at a set apiece. Morris ultimately took the match win 1-6, 7-6, 6-2.
Bucknell will be back in action on Tuesday when it takes on Lehigh in a match that could have major seeding implications for the Patriot League Tournament. The match is set for 3:30 p.m. The Bison will then return home on Wednesday to host Robert Morris at the Varsity Tennis Courts and to recognize Cohenca and Maxson as part of Senior Day.
Bucknell 6, Lafayette 1
Doubles
1. Gregg Cohenca/Aiden Lynch (BU) def. Doug Gallagher/Will Mercorella (LC), 8-4
2. Evan Zimmer/Josh Katten (BU) def. James Oliver/Scott Gelbman (LC), 8-2
3. Scott Bernstein/Kelly Morque (BU) def. Brandon Goldstein/Andrew Morris (LC), 8-4
Singles
1. Gregg Cohenca (BU) def. Doug Gallagher (LC), 6-3, 6-3
2. Evan Zimmer (BU) def. Will Mercorella (LC), 7-5, 6-1
3. Josh Katten (BU) def. Brandon Goldstein (LC), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
4. Kelly Morque (BU) def. James Oliver (LC), 6-0, 6-2
5. Andrew Morris (LC) def. Jonathan DeFrancesch, 1-6, 7-6, 6-2
6. Gregory Maxson (BU) def. Scott Gelbman (LC), 6-4, 6-2
