Bucknell University
Lafayette
Bucknell Men's Tennis Sweeps Lafayette, Earns Meeting with Lehigh in Patriot League Tournament Semis
4/19/2013 8:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 19, 2013
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Third-seeded Bucknell men's tennis secured its seventh consecutive trip to the Patriot League Tournament semifinals with a smooth 4-0 victory over Lafayette at Drumlins Country Club on Friday evening. After getting the clinching win from Octavio Canibe at sixth singles, the Bison (14-7) will take on Lehigh tomorrow at 2 p.m. in a bid for their first championship match in program history.
Just as it had during the regular season, Bucknell made quick work of Lafayette's doubles teams. Aidan Lynch and Evan Zimmer teamed up for an 8-2 win over Brandon Goldstein and Scott Gelbman at the top of the lineup. It was the second time this spring that the Bison duo topped Goldstein and Gelbman after Lynch and Zimmer won 8-5 in the regular season.
Canibe and Kelly Morque later secured the team's first point of the night with an 8-4 decision over Brian Stefanowiz and Jake Lazer. Like Lynch and Zimmer who have an eight-match winning streak together, Canibe and Morque extended their own successful stretch to four consecutive victories.
With a 1-0 lead in the team score, Zimmer, Josh Katten and Canibe dispatched their singles opponents in straight sets to clinch the match and send the sixth-seeded Leopards home early. Zimmer did not allow a game to his opponent Gavin Studner at third singles, winning 6-0, 6-0.
The Bison senior now has 22 singles wins on the year, leading the team. With his wins in both doubles and singles, Zimmer's career combined record improves to 148-78. He is attempting to become the third player in program history to record at least 150 career victories.
Katten's 6-3, 6-2 win over Stefanowicz at the No. 4 spot in the lineup was a nearly identical repeat to their meeting in the regular season. Canibe then closed out action with a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Jake Lazer. It was Canibe's first postseason appearance. It was also the sophomore's third win in as many singles matches against a Patriot League foe.
Bucknell will next take on second-seeded Lehigh tomorrow. The Bison defeated the Mountain Hawks in a back-and-forth 4-3 battle last Monday at the Varsity Tennis Courts in Lewisburg. Bucknell is 5-2 all-time against Lehigh in the postseason and have won each of the last four meetings in the Patriot League Tournament. Lehigh swept Holy Cross 4-0 in the earlier match on Friday.
NO. 3 BUCKNELL 4, NO. 6 LAFAYETTE 0
Doubles
1. Evan Zimmer/Aidan Lynch (BU) def. Brandon Goldstein/Scott Gelbman (LC), 8-2
2. Nick Bybel/Josh Katten (BU) vs. Gavin Studner/Chris Matturri (LC), 7-2 DNF
3. Octavio Canibe/Kelly Morque (BU) def. Brian Stefanowicz/Jake Lazer (LC), 8-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3
Singles
1. Nick Bybel (BU) vs. Brandon Goldstein (LC), 6-3, 5-0 DNF
2. Kelly Morque (BU) vs. Scott Gelbman (LC), 6-4, 4-3 DNF
3. Evan Zimmer (BU) def. Gavin Studner (LC), 6-0, 6-0
4. Josh Katten (BU) def. Brian Stefanowicz (LC), 6-3, 6-2
5. Kyle Rosen (BU) vs. Chris Matturri (LC), 6-0, 3-5 DNF
6. Octavio Canibe (BU) def. Jake Lazer (LC), 6-4, 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 4, 6
