Bucknell University Athletics
Men's Tennis Tabbed Fifth in Patriot League Preseason Poll
1/16/2015 3:50:00 PM | Men's Tennis
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Patriot League released the 2015 Men's Tennis Preseason Poll on Friday, and Bucknell was picked fifth out of nine teams by the conference coaches and sports information directors.
Army was picked to repeat as conference champions, receiving 12 first-place votes. Navy picked up four first-place votes and finished second in the poll, Lehigh was third and Boston University was fourth with two-first place votes to round out the teams ahead of Bucknell. Colgate, Loyola (Md.), Lafayette and Holy Cross were picked sixth through ninth.
Bucknell went 2-4 against Patriot League teams during the regular season last year, notching wins over Loyola (Md.) and Lafayette. The Bison were the sixth seed in the Patriot League Tournament, where they lost to third-seeded Navy in the quarterfinals.
Junior Nick Bybel is the returning Patriot League Player of the Year and was the Rookie of the Year two seasons ago. He enters the season ranked 114th nationally and ninth in the Atlantic Region after winning three individual titles during the fall.
Bybel went 26-9 last season, including 14-4 in dual matches. Senior Octavio Canibe and sophomore Bryan Adams recorded six dual wins last season.
Joining Bybel with individual titles this fall were a trio of freshmen in Ben Gerber, Maxwell Kane and William Szamosszegi. Gerber and Canibe teamed up to win a pair of tournaments in doubles play, while Bybel and Kane won the Saint Joseph's Invitational.
Bucknell opens the spring season at Delaware on Sunday, Feb. 1. The Bison will host the 2015 Patriot League Tournament on April 16-19.
|
2015 Patriot League Preseason Men's Tennis Poll |
Points |
|
1. Army (12 first-place votes) |
124 |
|
2. Navy (4) |
114 |
|
3. Lehigh |
93 |
|
4. Boston U. (2) |
92 |
|
5. Bucknell |
72 |
|
6. Colgate |
63 |
|
7. Loyola Maryland |
44 |
|
8. Lafayette |
30 |
|
9. Holy Cross |
16 |
Players Mentioned
