Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh (PL Quarterfinals)
Women's Tennis Faces Fourth-Seeded Lehigh in Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinal
4/29/2021 10:13:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Setting the Scene
What: Patriot League Women's Tennis Championships
When: April 29 – May 2
Where: Annapolis, Md.
Live Scoring: iOnCourt.com
Results: BucknellBison.com
Navy Athletics Attendance Policy: At this time, spectators are permitted for all outdoor competition during the championship. There is currently no limit on the number of spectators that can attend. Spectators are not permitted indoors should competition move indoors due to weather.
Tournament Schedule
Thursday, April 29 – First Round
No. 8 Lafayette 4, No. 9 Holy Cross 0
Friday, April 30 – Quarterfinals
No. 1 Boston University 4, No. 8 Lafayette 0
No. 4 Lehigh 2, No. 5 Bucknell 4
No. 3 Navy 4, No. 6 Colgate 0
No. 2 Army West Point 4, No. 7 Loyola Maryland 0
Saturday, May 1 – Semifinals
No. 1 Boston U. vs. No. 5 Bucknell, 10 a.m.
No. 3 Navy vs. No. 2 Army, 2 p.m.
Sunday, May 2 – Championship
Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner, Noon
About the Bison
• The fifth-seeded Bucknell women's tennis team is set to face fourth-seeded Lehigh in the quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Championship Tournament on Friday. It will be Bucknell's first appearance in the tournament under head coach Tammy Cecchini after last year's was canceled. Bucknell finished the regular season at an even 4-4 overall and 2-3 in league play. The Bison ended the season on a high note with a 7-0 victory over St. Bonaventure on Saturday.
• Leading the Bison with 12 overall victories this spring is senior Cayla Koch. She sports a team-best 7-1 record at No. 2 singles and is 5-3 in the No. 1 doubles spot. Koch enters the tournament tied for 19th in program history in singles wins, ranking ninth in all-time doubles wins, and 15th in combined victories.
• Also climbing Bucknell's record books is senior Sofia Ayuso, who is currently two singles wins away from moving into 14th all-time. Ayuso has four overall wins this spring. Joining the Bison seniors is Rachel Carroll, who will look to add to her career totals as her Bucknell career nears its end.
• Behind Koch, junior Daniela Bellini and rookie Tyne Miller are second on the roster in singles victories with four. Bellini has played every single match on court one and is 4-3 in No. 1 doubles. Miller is 4-3 in No. 3 singles and has played all of her doubles matches on court two.
• Laurel Utterback has also enjoyed a strong rookie campaign. Utterback has appeared in the last six matches and is 4-2 in singles and 4-3 in doubles play. Fellow rookie Kate Novak is coming off her first singles win, defeating her St. Bonaventure opponent at No. 6 singles last weekend.
• The Bison are 10-7 overall in dual matches through two years under Cecchini.
• Bucknell has won two Patriot League Championship titles (1992, 1994). The Bison reached the Patriot League semifinals during their last appearance in the tournament in 2019, defeating Loyola (Md.) in the quarterfinals before falling to the Terriers in the semis.
Scouting the Mountain Hawks
• Lehigh secured the fourth seed in the Patriot League Tournament with a 5-3 overall record and a 4-2 mark in league play. The Mountain Hawks enter the tournament fresh off a 7-0 win over Lafayette and have wins over Bucknell, Colgate and Loyola as well.
• Senior Paula Gonzalez has played every match on court one for the Mountain Hawks and is 3-4 this spring. Rookie Rachel Buchinsky has Lehigh's best singles record at 6-0, playing all of her matches on courts four and five.
• Gonzalez and rookie Leighanna Moskos are 5-3 as Lehigh's top doubles tandem.
Series History
• Bucknell is 16-7 in dual matches against Lehigh since 2004, however, the Mountain Hawks have claimed each of the last five. Bucknell's last win over the Mountain Hawks was during the 2016 Patriot League quarterfinals.
• The two teams last met in the Patriot League Tournament in 2018.
• Lehigh won 5-2 over Bucknell back on April 4 of this season. Bellini and Koch both won their singles matches at No. 1 and No. 2, but the Mountain Hawks won the next four in singles and swept the doubles point in Bethlehem, Pa.
Up Next
• With a win on Friday, Bucknell would advance to the Patriot League semifinal round to face the winner of Boston U./Lafayette/Holy Cross. The semifinal match is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 1.
Players Mentioned
