Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Loyola Maryland
Men's Tennis Rolls Past Loyola 6-1 for Win in Patriot League Opener
3/22/2014 6:10:00 PM | Men's Tennis
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Nick Bybel won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles and Octavio Canibe clinched the match with a straight-set win at No. 3, lifting the Bison to a 6-1 victory over Loyola Maryland in windy conditions on Saturday afternoon. The win was Bucknell's first of the spring and it also gave interim head coach Craig Schwartz his first win with the Bison.
In the team's first of six Patriot League dual matches, the Bison (1-8, 1-0 PL) won the doubles point and then took five of the six singles tilts from the Greyhounds (5-2, 0-1). The No. 1 tandem of Bybel and Aidan Lynch clinched the doubles point for Bucknell after the teams split at second and third doubles. All knotted up at 7-7, Bybel and Lynch rallied from 3-0 down in the tiebreaker to hold off Harrison Kunkel and Connor Lisco.
Bybel did not concede a game as he breezed past Connor Pietrak at No. 1 singles. Freshman Bryan Adams gave the Bison a 3-0 lead with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Greg Olesnycky at No. 4.
Loyola's lone singles victory came at No. 2, where Kunkel outlasted Lynch 7-5, 7-6 (7-3). But a few minutes later Canibe clinched the victory for the Bison with a 6-1, 7-5 decision over Lisco on Court 3.
Kyle Rosen and Irwin Reibeisen polished it off with wins at fifth and sixth singles, with the senior Reibeisen earning his first dual-match victory for Bucknell.
"After two months of hard work, it is nice to start off Patriot League play with a win," said Canibe. "I am excited for the next matches and practices. We have a great group of guys and we trust our coach to help us win the Patriot League this year."
The Bison will be back in action on Sunday at Delaware at 3 p.m.
Doubles:
1. Nick Bybel/Aidan Lynch (B) def. Harrison Kunkel/Connor Lisco, 8-7 (4)
2. Greg Olesnycky/Jordan Kuchta (L) def. John DeFrancesch/Chris Tortora, 8-4
3. Octavio Canibe/Scott Bernstein (B) def. Connor Pietrak/Alex Casto, 8-4
Singles:
1. Nick Bybel (B) def. Connor Pietrak, 6-0, 6-0
2. Harrison Kunkel (L) def. Aidan Lynch, 7-5, 7-6 (3)
3. Octavio Canibe (B) def. Connor Lisco, 6-1, 7-5
4. Bryan Adams (B) def. Greg Olesnycky, 6-3, 6-3
5. Kyle Rosen (B) def. Jordan Kuchta, 6-0, 4-6, (10-7)
6. Irwin Reibeisen (B) def. Alex Castro, 7-5, 6-3
Players Mentioned
