Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women Third, Men Fourth in Patriot League Tennis Preseason Polls
1/17/2013 7:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Jan. 17, 2013
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell women's tennis was voted third and the men's tennis squad fourth when the Patriot League released its preseason polls on Thursday. The women claimed 49 points in the vote, while the men had 41. Both teams went 2-3 in conference play last spring and will resume competition against the Patriot League in their March 23 match at Navy.
The women's team trailed defending champion Army, which finished with 69 points and nine first-place votes, and Navy. The Midshipmen were second with 65 points and the remaining five first-place votes. Rounding out the women's poll were Colgate (42 points), Lehigh (35), Lafayette (19) and Holy Cross (15) in fourth through seventh, respectively.
Bucknell was 7-17 overall and 2-3 in the Patriot League last year. The swept Lehigh 4-0 in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament before falling by an identical score to Navy in the semifinals.
The Bucknell men's team found itself in the middle of the pack in the preseason poll, coming in behind Navy, which totaled 70 points and 10 first-place votes after winning the Patriot League title last spring. Army was second with 63 points and four first-place votes, followed by Lehigh in third with 50 points. Colgate (36), Lafayette (22) and Holy Cross (12) completed the poll.
The preseason poll is determined by the schools' head coaches and sports information directors who cannot vote for their own team.
The Bison earned a 10-14 record overall last season and advanced to the Patriot League Tournament semifinals where they fell to Navy, 4-1. The season continued at the NCAA Championships as recent graduate Gregg Cohenca and current senior Evan Zimmer (Essex Fells, N.J./West Essex) earned a doubles bid. The duo became the first players in program history to advance to the national championships.
Bucknell's women's squad will feature Elena Vidrascu (Rochester, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland), who ranks 16th in program history in total wins (74). Zimmer, who ranks fourth in all-time victories (121), and Josh Katten (Plainview, N.Y./Plainview JFK), who is third with 130 career wins, will continue to lead the men's squad as when play resumes next month. Both teams play their first dual match of the season Feb. 2 against Saint Francis (Pa.) at the West Branch Tennis Club in Williamsport, Pa.
Patriot League Men's Tennis Preseason Poll
1. Navy – 70 points (10 first-place votes)
2. Army – 63 (4)
3. Lehigh – 50
4. Bucknell – 41
5. Colgate – 36
6. Lafayette – 22
7. Holy Cross – 12
Patriot League Women's Preseason Poll
1. Army – 69 (9)
2. Navy – 65 (5)
3. Bucknell – 49
4. Colgate – 42
5. Lehigh – 35
6. Lafayette – 19
7. Holy Cross – 15
