Women's Tennis Begins Patriot League Play with Matches at Colgate and Lehigh

Saturday, April 3

Hamilton, N.Y.

2:30 p.m.

Bucknell University

Colgate

Photo by: Marc Hagemeier

Women's Tennis Begins Patriot League Play with Matches at Colgate and Lehigh

3/31/2021 10:05:00 AM | Women's Tennis

Setting the Scene, Part I
What: Bucknell (1-0) at Colgate (2-3)
When: Saturday, April 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Where: Hamilton, N.Y.
Results: BucknellBison.com
Colgate Athletics: Spectator Policy

Setting the Scene, Part II
What: Bucknell (1-0) at Lehigh (3-1)
When: Sunday, April 4 at 1 p.m.
Where: Bethlehem, Pa.
Results: BucknellBison.com
Lehigh Athletics: Spectator Policy

About the Bison
• Bucknell returns to action this weekend after three weeks of postponements. The 1-0 Bison will travel to face both Colgate and Lehigh on the road for the team's first Patriot League competition in nearly two years. Bucknell last faced a PL opponent on April 27, 2019.
• Bucknell went 3-2 in Patriot League play in 2019 and earned a win over Loyola (Md.) in the Patriot League quarterfinal round. Only four of the 10 Bison on the roster have played against a PL team, and it will be head coach Tammy Cecchini's first conference matches. The three seniors on the roster are 6-4 in Patriot League play in their careers.
• Bucknell's only match played this season was a 5-2 victory over Saint Francis back on March 7. The Bison won four of six singles matches and swept in doubles.
• Junior Daniela Bellini played at No. 1 singles against Saint Francis and won 7-5, 6-4. Bellini is 19-7 when playing on court one in her career.
• Taking the top doubles victory was Cayla Koch and Dax Seidlin. Bellini and rookie Tyne Miller won at No. 2 doubles, and senior Sofia Ayuso and first-year Laurel Utterback won at No. 3 doubles.
• Winning at No. 2 singles against Saint Francis was senior Cayla Koch. With the victory, Koch moved to 26^th on Bucknell's all-time singles victories list at 42-27.
• Ayuso entered the season ranked 15^th all-time in singles wins, 24^th in doubles victories, and 20^th in all-time victories.
• The Bison are in their second year under Cecchini. Cecchini led Bucknell to a 6-3 record last season, winning five of the team's final six matches.

Scouting the Raiders/Series History
• Colgate is 2-3 this season and has already faced three Patriot League teams, going 1-2 in those matches. Colgate won 7-0 over Holy Cross, but suffered a pair of losses to Army and Lehigh. The Raiders also have a win over Monmouth this spring.
• Playing at No. 1 singles in every match has been sophomore Emme Levenson, who is 2-2 this season. Levenson was 5-3 in singles during her rookie campaign.
• The Raiders lost all three doubles matchups in each of the first three matches, but won four of six over the last two matches with Holy Cross and Lehigh.
• Bucknell last faced Colgate on March 2, 2019, winning 6-1 in Syracuse, N.Y. The Bison have won two in a row over Colgate. The Raiders last defeated Bucknell 5-2 on March 25, 2017.

Scouting the Mountain Hawks/Series History
• Lehigh is 3-1, including a 2-0 mark in Patriot League play. The Mountain Hawks defeated both Loyola (Md.) and Colgate, while suffering their only loss to Villanova.
• Lehigh senior Paula Gonzalez has started every match at No. 1 singles and is 2-1 in that spot this spring. Gonzalez went 6-5 in singles last season, playing each match at No. 2.
• The Mountain Hawks are 7-5 in doubles play this spring, with Gonzales and first-year Leighanna Moskos going 3-1 in the top spot.
• Bucknell and Lehigh last matched up on April 16, 2019, and the Mountain Hawks claimed a 4-3 victory. Bucknell last defeated Lehigh in the Patriot League quarterfinal in 2016.

Up Next
• Bucknell takes on Army and Loyola (Md.) in two more Patriot League matches the following weekend. The Bison will travel to West Point, N.Y. on Friday, April 9 to face the Black Knights before returning to Lewisburg and hosting the Greyhounds on Sunday, April 11.