Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Women's Tennis Opens Patriot League Play Saturday at Navy
3/20/2013 8:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 20, 2013
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell women's tennis got a rude awakening when it returned from Puerto Rico only to have its next match postponed to snow, but the Bison will finally get back on the courts this weekend against George Mason and Navy. Bucknell's matchup against the Patriots is set for 12 p.m. on Friday in Fairfax, Va. The Bison's Patriot League opener will follow on Saturday against the Midshipmen at 2:30 in Annapolis, Md.
Bucknell (3-6) faced a couple of tough lineups during its Spring Break trip in Puerto Rico, going 1-2 with a win against Minnesota State. Maria Cioffi and Lydia Colvin were the only Bison to collect more than one singles victory, while the team picked up its first doubles decision in the third outing vs. the Mavericks. That meeting against Minnesota State proved to be Bucknell's strongest across the board as it also allowed a mere 13 total games in all six singles matches.
Cioffi improved her singles record to 17-7 in her latest decision, an impressive 6-0, 6-0 showing against Minnesota State's Kelly Lechowski. The Bison freshman, who leads the team in victories this year, reached that 17th win in her 24th match. That is the fastest to 17 since Tania Varela did so in her 23rd match and Lauren Lucido won No. 17 in her 24th in 2010. Lucido finished her career a year later as the program's all-time singles wins leader at 87-36.
Bucknell switched up its doubles lineup in its last match, pairing up teammates that have spent limited time together on the court. Cioffi and fellow rookie Stephanie Pino teamed up at No. 1 doubles, while Elena Vidrascu and Lydia Colvin worked together at No. 2. It was each tandem's first time playing together since the fall tournament season. Kristen Bishop and Claudia Silvers had never played together before March 14. All three teams won in their meetings with the Mavericks.
Bishof and Silvers gave Bucknell its 20th different doubles combination this year. The Bison have used 14 different doubles pairings in duals matches alone. Cioffi and Vidrascu have had the most experience together, going 13-5 overall and 3-2 in the spring together.
Bucknell will look for a second consecutive team win when it travels to George Mason on Friday. The Patriots (5-8) have seen their record fluctuate this spring and have just two wins in their last five matches. Bucknell will be George Mason's second Patriot League foe of the year. The Patriots were swept by Navy back in early February.
The series between the Bison and the Patriots is deadlocked at 2-2. George Mason won the last decision, however, 5-2, last spring. Bucknell took just one doubles win in that outing, an 8-7 victory at the No. 3 position for Elizabeth Morgan and Lauren Boone, but all three matches were close ones as the most lopsided decision was still only 8-5. Dumitrita Iepuras and Christie Schneider were the lone singles victors for the Bison.
Unlike George Mason, Navy (16-3) enters the week on an impressive winning streak. The Mids play Delaware on Thursday afternoon, putting their 14-match streak on the line. They have played a few close matches in the last five, pulling out 4-3 wins over Seton Hall and Quinnipiac in their most recent outings.
Navy first became a varsity program in 2010 and Bucknell took the first two matches in the series. The Mids have had the final say in the last four meetings, however, taking a 4-2 series advantage. The two teams met twice last year with Navy winning 5-2 in the regular season and 4-0 in the Patriot League Tournament Semifinals. Colvin and Courtney Casey were the only Bison to win in both meetings, taking a doubles victory together each time. Among players returning from last year, Bucknell's best shot in singles came in the regular-season matchup when Vidrascu pushed Stefanie Ton to three sets. The Midshipman still won, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, in that meeting, however.
Bucknell's match with Mount St. Mary's, which was originally scheduled for last Tuesday, was called for snow. The Mount will still be the Bison's next home match despite the change. Bucknell and Mount St. Mary's are now scheduled to play at 3 p.m. on March 27 at the Varsity Tennis Courts. The Bison will also host Villanova at 3 p.m. on March 28.
