Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Bucknell Men's Tennis Misses Upset Bid in 4-3 Loss to Lehigh
4/20/2013 8:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 20, 2013
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Third-seeded Bucknell men's tennis' postseason run came to an end with a tough 4-3 loss to No. 2 Lehigh at the Drumlins Country Club in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals on Saturday afternoon. The Bison, which are 14-8 overall this season, have one match remaining in the 2013 season, a Tuesday matchup with Bloomsburg at the Varsity Tennis Courts.
Each of Bucknell's meetings ended in a 4-3 scored this spring. The first during the regular season went in favor of the Bison, but the Mountain Hawks got their revenge on Saturday, earning a berth in the Patriot League Championship match against Navy tomorrow afternoon.
Despite similar team scores in each of their matches this year, the results of several individual matches were reversed. Among those to stay the same was third doubles, which went the way of Octavio Canibe and Kelly Morque. The Bison duo defeated Ben Gilman and Andrew Krentz, 8-3.
The doubles point went to Lehigh, however, despite Bucknell's sweep in the regular season. Mark Goldberg and Mitchell Petersen defeated Aidan Lynch and Evan Zimmer 8-4 and Jeremy Kochman and Matt Savran took down Nick Bybel and Josh Katten, 9-8 (3). It was the first loss of the year for Lynch and Zimmer when playing together. The tandem is 8-1 as a team this spring.
Bybel also repeated is regular-season win over Goldberg, this time, winning 6-2, 7-5. Morque and Zimmer both reversed their fortunes, however. Morque rallied after losing the first set and ultimately defeated Gilman 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 at No. 2 singles. Zimmer lost to Petersen in three sets last week but had a considerably smoother time with his opponent on Saturday. The Bison senior won 6-2, 6-4 to keep Bucknell's postseason alive.
Losses for Bucknell at fourth, fifth and sixth singles were the difference maker. Ultimately it was Timur Chernykh with a 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 win over Canibe at the No. 6 spot that clinched the win for Lehigh.
Bucknell is now 5-3 against Lehigh in the Patriot League Tournament. Saturday's loss ended a four-match postseason winning streak against the Mountain Hawks.
LEHIGH 4, BUCKNELL 3
Doubles
1. Mark Goldberg/Mitchell Petersen (LU) def. Aidan Lynch/Evan Zimmer (BU), 8-4
2. Jeremy Kochman/Matt Savran (LU) def. Nick Bybel/Josh Katten (BU), 9-8 (3)
3. Octavio Canibe/Kelly Morque (BU) def. Ben Gilman/Andrew Krentz (LU), 8-3
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles
1. Nick Bybel (BU) def. Mark Goldberg (LU), 6-2, 7-5
2. Kelly Morque (BU) def. Ben Gilman (LU), 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
3. Evan Zimmer (BU) def. Mitchell Petersen (LU), 6-2, 6-4
4. Matt Savran (LU) def. Josh Katten (BU), 6-1, 6-1
5. Andrew Krentz (LU) def. Kyle Rosen (BU), 7-5, 6-3
6. Timur Chernykh (LU) def. Octavio Canibe (BU), 2-6, 7-6, 6-4
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 1, 5, 2, 6
