Bucknell University
Bethune-Cookman
Bethune-Cookman Edges Men's Tennis 4-3
3/10/2015 7:35:00 PM | Men's Tennis
ORLANDO – Bucknell men's tennis came up just short in a match that came down to the third set in the final singles contest, falling to Bethune-Cookman 4-3 on Tuesday in Orlando, Florida. The Bison's last three losses have all come by just one point.
The Bison, who had to shift the majority of the starters up one spot due to playing without No. 2 player Bryan Adams, fell to 4-4 on the season. The Wildcats improved to 6-7 with the win.
After being swept in doubles and dropping the first completed singles match, Bucknell got on the board with freshman Daniel Wright's 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 2. Wright upped his spring record to 7-1 with his sixth consecutive victory.
Bethune-Cookman responded with a win at No. 5, before Bucknell tied the match with points at No. 1 and No. 6. Senior Nick Bybel improved to 7-1 with his sixth straight win, besting Walid Gtari 6-4, 6-3 at No. 1, while freshman William Szamosszegi stepped into the lineup at No. 6 and defeated Pablo Lopez 6-3, 6-3. Szamosszegi has won both of the matches he has played this spring and has a five-match winning streak dating back to the fall season.
Playing at No. 4 for the first time, freshman Maxwell Kane nearly led the Bison to their second win in as many days. He dropped the first set 6-4, bounced back with a 6-3 win in the second and was edged 6-4 in the third and deciding set.
“It was a hard-fought match in most spots but it ultimately came down to not winning the doubles point,” said Bucknell head coach Craig Schwartz. “I had to pull Bryan out of the singles lineup so it was great to see Dan Wright and Will Szamosszegi step up and get wins. Nick has been a rock for us in that No. 1 spot, as well. If we keep battling the way we have been, I see good things transpiring for this team come Patriot League season.”
The Bison have two matches scheduled on Wednesday. They will play Southern Mississippi at 8:30 a.m. and St. Cloud State at 3 p.m.
BETHUNE-COOKMAN 4, BUCKNELL 3
4-4, 0-0 PL
Orlando, Fla.
Doubles
1. Walid Gtari/Kevin Deligny (BC) def. Nick Bybel/Bryan Adams (BU), 8-6
2. Gilbert Rotich/Diego Garavito (BC) def. Daniel Wright/Octavio Canibe (BU), 8-5
3. Alexander Chepik/Alvaro Barrera (BC) def. Maxwell Kane/Ben Gerber (BU), 8-0
Order of Finish – 3, 2, 1
Singles
1. Nick Bybel (BU) def. Walid Gtari (BC), 6-4, 6-3
2. Daniel Wright (BU) def. Alexander Chepik (BC), 6-3, 6-1
3. Greg Almeida (BC) def. Octavio Canibe (BU), 6-0, 6-2
4. Alvaro Barrera (BC) def. Maxwell Kane (BU), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
5. Kevin Deligny (BC) def. Ben Gerber (BU), 6-2, 6-2
6. William Szamosszegi (BU) def. Pablo Lopez (BC), 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish – 3, 2, 5, 1, 6, 4
Players Mentioned
