Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Men's Tennis Gears Up for Weekend Clash with Carnegie Mellon, Duquesne
2/7/2013 7:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 7, 2013
LEWISBURG, Pa. - After a smooth victory in its spring opener last weekend, Bucknell men's tennis will look to keep that success rolling this weekend with a pair of matches in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Bison will take to the road to challenge Carnegie Mellon at 6 p.m. on Friday. Competition continues with Duquesne at the Alpha Tennis and Fitness Center at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Bucknell has had some mixed results against its Pittsburgh opponents over the years, going 0-2 all-time against Carnegie Mellon and 6-7 in the series with Duquesne. The losing record against the Division III Tartans is a bit misleading, however. Carnegie Mellon won the 2011 meeting, 6-3 and was ranked eighth nationally at the time. That was the teams' first head-to-head match since 1924. Among those claiming victories for the Bison two years ago was Kelly Morque. Morque was a straight-sets winner at No. 5 singles, registering his 12th consecutive victory after a strong fall campaign.
When Bucknell and Duquesne last met in a dual, the Bison walked away with a 5-2 decision. Gregg Cohenca and Evan Zimmer had a battle at No. 1 doubles and pulled out the 9-8 (7) victory to give Bucknell the doubles point. Gregory Maxson ultimately clinched the match for the Bison with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win at sixth singles. Octavio Canibe, Josh Katten and Kyle Rosen also had singles wins that afternoon.
Bucknell and Duquesne are no strangers to each other this year. The Dukes attended the Bucknell Invitational last September. The Bison were 3-1 in singles and 3-0 in doubles at that tournament, but the singles matches especially were close affairs. All four singles matches were decided in super tie breaks.
Both Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne have winning records entering this week's competition. The Tartans are 3-0 with wins over Robert Morris, Amherst and West Virginia Wesleyan. The Dukes enter the weekend on a three-match winning streak with decisions over James Madison, Georgetown and Toledo during that stretch. They are 4-1 on the year.
Bucknell opened its own spring campaign with a win last weekend, defeating Saint Francis (Pa.) 5-2. The match was particularly noteworthy for Morque who, with his doubles win with Zimmer, claimed his 100th career total victory. Morque is the third current Bison to hit the century mark with a career record of 100-77, ranking him 14th in program history. Katten is third (132-78) and Zimmer is fourth (123-65) on the combined wins record lists.
Morque and Zimmer teamed up for the first time in doubles since they were freshmen on Saturday. Now seniors, the duo went 2-6 overall, and 0-5 in duals, as when playing together as rookies in 2009-10. Prior to Saturday's 8-2 victory over Saint Francis, their last match together was against Duquesne, ending in an 8-6 loss.
Zimmer has had his own success playing at singles this year. With his 3-6, 6-3, (10-8) win over Sergio Carvajal last weekend, he became the first Bison this year to reach double-digit wins with a 10-6 record. He is also 5-3 in super tie breaks since the beginning of the fall campaign.
Among the other highlights from Bucknell's win over Saint Francis was the return of Nick Bybel. After missing the end of the fall season due to injury, the freshman defeated Andres Rosa 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles and helped Katten defeat the Red Flash's No. 1 doubles team 8-3. With any luck, the hot start will be a repeat of Bybel's fall success when he debuted with four straight singles wins and a flight championship at the Bucknell Quad.
Bucknell's schedule resumes Feb. 16-17 in Olean, N.Y. The Bison will take on Niagara that Saturday, followed by St. Bonaventure on Sunday in their annual trip north.
