Bucknell University
Temple
Bybel Ties Program Record for Single-Season Wins, but Bucknell Falls to Temple
4/12/2014 11:06:00 PM | Men's Tennis
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Bucknell men's tennis team battled through another tight match on Saturday afternoon, taking three singles wins but ultimately dropping a 4-3 decision to Temple at the TU Pavilion. The Bison, who are 1-3 in Patriot League play, fell to 2-14 overall with the loss, while the Owls improved to 10-10 overall with the win.
Sophomore Nick Bybel and senior Aidan Lynch combined to claim a win at the top doubles spot, playing to an 8-4 victory over Filip Stipcic and Hernan Vasconez, but Temple claimed the point with triumphs at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Hicham Belkssir and Nicolas Paulus grabbed an 8-2 win over senior Chris Tortora and freshman Bryan Adams, while Kristian Maequart and Vineet Naran triumphed over senior Scott Bernstein and junior Octavio Canibe by the same margin in the No. 3 match.
The Owls went up 2-0, taking the first singles win of the day, but the Bison won three straight after that, taking a 3-2 lead. Bybel, the only Bison to go 2-0 on the day, played to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Paulus at No. 1 singles, earning his sixth consecutive win at that spot. The sophomore also improved his season record to 24-9, a mark that ties the program's all-time record for single-season wins. Adams also played to victory, defeating Belkssir in three sets at No. 2 singles, while senior Kyle Rosen produced a 6-3, 6-2 win over Stipcic. Bucknell was in prime position after four singles bouts, but Temple rallied back to take the final two matches and the team victory.
“Although we ended up losing today, we are coming together as a team at the right time,” commented Rosen after the match. “We will be going into the Patriot League Tournament as the underdogs, and that will undoubtedly give us the chip on our shoulder that we need. This is a resilient and motivated team, and I am excited for the matches to come.”
Bucknell returns to Patriot League play on Sunday, when it travels to Lafayette for a 10 p.m. match.
Doubles:
1. Nick Bybel/Aidan Lynch (B) def. Filip Stipcic/Hernan Vasconez (T), 8-4
2. Hicham Belkssir/Nicolas Paulus (T) def. Chris Tortora/Bryan Adams (B), 8-2
3. Kristian Maequart/Vineet Naran (T) vs. Scott Bernstein/Octavio Canibe (B), 8-2
Singles:
1. Nick Bybel (B) def. Nicolas Paulus (T), 6-2, 6-2
2. Bryan Adams (B) def. Hicham Belkssir (T), 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
3. Kristian Marquart (T) def. Octavio Canibe (B), 6-3, 6-3
4. Kyle Rosen (B) def. Filip Stipcic (T), 6-3, 6-2
5. Santiago Canete (T) def. Chris Tortora (B), 6-0, 6-3
6. Hernan Vasconez (T) def. Jonathan DeFrancesch (B), 6-4, 7-5
Players Mentioned
