Men's Tennis Heads to Siena, Marist This Weekend

Bucknell (0-5) at Siena (3-3)
When: Friday, Feb. 11, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Tri-City Fitness, Latham, N.Y.

Bucknell (0-5) at Marist (0-2)
When: Saturday, Feb. 12, 5 p.m.
Where: Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Bucknell at a Glance

The Bison are off to an 0-5 start against a very challenging schedule, and now they head back on the road this weekend for a pair of matches against teams also looking for their first spring wins.
Bucknell fell at Drexel 7-0 last Sunday. Michael Owen won Bucknell's lone singles set, taking the first set in a tiebreaker over Xandy Hammitt at No. 3 singles. Ink Chen and Nicolas Grunig held a 5-4 lead at No. 3 doubles before play was halted when the Dragons clinched the point.
UNCW transfer Harrison Golf made his Bucknell debut against Drexel, playing both No. 1 singles and doubles.
Last week, Owen was named the Patriot League Player of the Week in recognition of his singles win against Toledo and a No. 1 doubles win with Nick Mueller against Michigan State.
The Bison competed in four fall tournaments, including their own annual event to get the season started. Bucknell also visited Bloomsburg, Binghamton, and Richmond.
Mueller enjoyed a terrific fall campaign, posting a team-best 8-1 record. Seven of those wins came in straight sets, and his only loss came in the final at the River City Open at Richmond. Mueller was also Bucknell's top doubles player last spring, going 7-4 in duals.
Zelikovsky, a sophomore, and the freshman Gruning both posted 6-3 records in the fall. Gruning won the first three, and six of the first seven, matches of his career.

Siena at a Glance

The Saints are 3-3 in duals in 2021-22, with the wins coming back in the fall against Sacred Heart and Holy Cross, and then this past Sunday at Boston University.
The win over the Terriers snapped a three-match losing streak to LIU, Brown, and Boston College.
The Saints have used three different players in the No. 1 singles spot and are 1-5 in that position. They have fared much better at No. 1 doubles, with a 4-2 mark.
Agustin Suarez leads the squad with a 3-1 singles record, including a 2-0 mark at No. 2. Suarez and Matt Nardone are 3-1 in doubles.
Suarez was named the MAAC Player of the Week on Feb. 2 after his win at No. 3 singles against Brown.

Marist at a Glance

The Red Foxes have played two dual matches thus far, resulting in 6-1 losses to Patriot League squads Army and Lehigh.
Gabriel Castillo won at No. 2 singles against both Army and Lehigh.
Marist was picked fifth in the MAAC preseason poll, one spot behind Siena. The Red Foxes were limited to three dual matches last season due to a long COVID pause, and they finished 2-1.

Next Up

Bucknell will play at home for the first time in 2022 next Saturday, Feb. 19, when Saint Joseph's visits the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport for a 1 p.m. match.