Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Men Host Bucknell Tennis Invitational Friday through Sunday
9/27/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sept. 27, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - With the fall tournament season coming to a close, Bucknell men's tennis will host its final home event until February, welcoming Bloomsburg, Coppin State, Duquesne and Mount St. Mary's to the Bucknell Invitational this weekend. Play in the double-elimination tournament at the Varsity Tennis Courts begins Friday and runs through Sunday.
The Bison had mixed results at last weekend's Saint Joseph's Invitational, but there were still plenty of storylines to pull from the event. Kelly Morque (Rye, N.Y./Rye) ended on a high note, winning the Flight 2 singles consolation draw. He also went 2-1 in doubles with Josh Katten (Plainview, N.Y./Plainview JFK) in a run that included an 8-6 victory over Army.
Katten and Morque were not the only Bison to face Patriot League foes recently. Bucknell went 2-2 in singles and 2-1 in doubles against conference opponents. Katten also defeated Lafayette's Chris Matturri 6-4, 6-0 in singles, while Aidan Lynch (La Canada Flintridge, Calif./La Canada) was a 6-2, 6-1 winner over Ron Verano from Army. Nick Bybel (Lancaster, Pa./Hilton Head Christian Academy (S.C.)) and Evan Zimmer (Essex Fells, N.J./West Essex) teamed up in doubles for an 8-1 decision over Lafayette only to fall 8-3 to Army in a subsequent round.
Those wins for the senior class of Katten, Morque and Zimmer helped continue the trio's climb up the Bucknell record books. Katten leads the group as he is now fifth in program history in singles (59-41) and doubles (64-33). His career combined record of 123-74 ranks third all-time at Bucknell. Zimmer enters the Bucknell Invitational ranked 10th in singles (51-30), sixth in doubles (61-29) and seventh in combined (112-59) wins. Morque is 21st in singles (41-28), 11th in doubles (51-42) and 15th in combined (92-70) victories.
With two more doubles wins for Morque, the trio will become the first Bucknell class to place three in the ranking's top 10. Along with Katten and Zimmer, the classes of 2008 (Ira Reibeisen, Ben Young), 2009 (Ryan Sandburg, Jonathan Brenner) and 2011 (Anton Kovic, Mark Malloy) also have two members currently among the top 10 in doubles victories.
Katten and Morque will have the chance to move up the record list together as they will continue teaming up in doubles this weekend. The Bison duo is 30-9 in their careers when playing together, but the team's other two doubles tandems are testing out a partnership for the first time at the Bucknell Invite. Octavio Canibe (Spring, Texas/John Cooper School) will pair up with Zimmer, while Jonathan DeFrancesch (Manhasset, N.Y./Friends Academy) will hit the court with Chris Tortora (Orange, N.J./Seton Hall Prep).
After hosting their final event of the fall, the Bison will take a short break before turning their attention to the Lehigh Invitational. Play in Bethlehem, Pa., is set for Oct. 12-14.
