Bucknell University
George Mason
Bucknell Men's Tennis Fights Off George Mason Comeback Bid, Wins 4-3
3/22/2013 8:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 22, 2013
FAIRFAX, Va. – Octavio Canibe and Aidan Lynch battled to a 9-7 doubles win, securing the 4-3 team victory for Bucknell men's tennis over George Mason on Friday afternoon. After starting the day with singles action and playing to a draw, the Bison (7-4) took two of three doubles bouts in the last match before starting their Patriot League schedule at Navy tomorrow.
With temperatures dropping, the meeting between Bucknell and George Mason (8-5) began with singles matches. The Bison went up 3-1 before the Patriots rallied in the final two matches to tie things up with only the doubles point up for grabs.
George Mason kept its momentum heading into doubles, winning at No. 2 with an 8-3 decision over Kelly Morque and Evan Zimmer, but Bucknell righted its ship long enough to get its third team win in the last four tries. Nick Bybel and Josh Katten defeated Tanner Baine and Christopher Borden 8-6 at the top of the lineup, setting the stage for Canibe and Lynch. The duo at No. 3 doubles came away with the 9- win over Jordan Dyke and Taylor Sargent to end the night in Bucknell's favor.
Bucknell and George Mason have met just three times in program history, and the Bison now have a 2-1 series advantage. It is their first win since the first meeting in 1989.
Getting Bucknell to the point where Canibe and Lynch could clinch were singles wins from Zimmer, Katten and Bybel. In that trio, only Katten had a bit of trouble with his opponent at No. 4. The senior beat Scott Keaton 6-2, 3-6, (10-5). Bybel was a straight-sets winner, 6-2, 6-4, over Dyke. Zimmer defeated Baine 6-2, 6-0.
Bucknell now travels to Annapolis to take on Navy at 10 a.m. tomorrow. The Bison are 0-36 all-time against the Mids, but they lost by a slim 4-3 margin during the 2012 regular season.
BUCKNELL 4, GEORGE MASON 3
Singles
1. Nick Bybel (BU) def. Jordan Dyke (GM), 6-2, 6-4
2. Jimmy Davis (GM) def. Kelly Morque (BU), 6-4, 6-4
3. Evan Zimmer (BU) def. Tanner Baine (GM), 6-2, 6-0
4. Josh Katten (BU) def. Scott Keaton (GM), 6-2, 3-6, (10-5)
5. Aaron Caitel (GM) def. Ryan Marcil (BU), 7-5, 6-2
6. Taylor Sargent (GM) def. Kyle Rosen (BU), 6-4, 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 4, 5, 1, 6, 2
Doubles
1. Nick Bybel/Josh Kattten (BU) def. Tanner Baine/Christopher Borden (GM), 8-6
2. Jimmy Davis/Scott Keaton (GM) def. Kelly Morque/Evan Zimmer (BU), 8-3
3. Octavio Canibe/Aidan Lynch (BU) def. Jordan Dyke/Taylor Sargent (GM), 9-7
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
