Bucknell University
UC Riverside
Women's Tennis Faces UC Riverside, Claremont in Spring Break Duals
3/11/2024 11:07:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Bucknell (7-6, 0-1 PL) at UC Riverside (3-12, 0-3 Big West)
When: Tuesday, March 12 – 5 p.m. ET
Where: SRC Tennis Courts – Riverside, Calif.
Bucknell (7-6, 0-1 PL) at Westmont (1-7)
When: Wednesday, March 13 – 1 p.m. ET
Where: Westmont College – Santa Barbara, Calif.
Bucknell at a Glance
• The Bucknell women's tennis team heads west for its annual spring break trip and will face UC Riverside and Westmont College in California on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Bison are looking to continue their hot streak of late that has seen them go 6-1 over their last seven duals.
• The Bison defeated both Skidmore and Siena when they last competed on March 2 and 3. They were the third and fourth consecutive victories for Bucknell. Against the Thoroughbreds, Bucknell took two of three in doubles and three singles matches to win 5-4. The Bison then won two of three doubles matches and toom four wins in singles to defeat the Saints, 5-2.
• Bucknell traveled to South Carolina last year during spring break and played a challenging slate of duals against College of Charleston, South Carolina State and Charleston Southern. In 2022, Bucknell flew out Hawaii and earned a win over Chaminade while taking two losses against the University of Hawaii.
• Sophomore Abby Platt has gone 4-0 in singles during Bucknell's four-dual win streak. She has an 8-2 mark over the last 10 duals and leads the team with a 15-4 overall singles record this season.
• Junior Whitney King has won three singles matches in a row. She's 13-7 overall and 7-5 in duals, playing on court one each time.
• King and Platt are 17-3 in doubles action, including an 8-3 record at No. 1 doubles in duals. King is tied with Cayla Koch '21 for 10th in program history with 57 career doubles victories.
• Bucknell finished the 2022-23 campaign 13-13 (4-3 PL) and reached the Patriot League semifinal round for a second time under head coach Tammy Cecchini. The Bison defeated Colgate 4-0 in the quarterfinals for the program's 500th all-time victory in what was the 50th season of Bucknell women's tennis. At the end of the year, King was named to the All-Patriot League First Team and the Academic All-Patriot League Team.
• Bucknell returned all eight members of last spring's roster and added two newcomers: Tori Allen and Jaycie Mair. The roster is comprised of three seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and the two rookies.
• Seniors Tyne Miller, Kate Novak and Madi Sebulsky are serving as team captains this season.
• Cecchini is in her fifth year leading the Bison. She owns a 43-37 record since arriving in Lewisburg.
Category Leaders
• Overall Singles Wins: Abby Platt (15)
• Dual Match Singles Abby Platt (8)
• PL Dual Match Singles Wins: N/A
• Overall Doubles Wins: King and Platt (17)
• Dual Match Doubles Wins: King and Platt (8)
• PL Dual Match Doubles Wins: King and Platt (1)
Scouting UC Riverside
• The Highlanders are 3-13 (0-3 Big West) after dropping their last three duals against Weber State, East Carolina and UC Davis. Their wins this season have come over UTRGV, Hope International and Ottawa – Arizona University.
• Sophomore Brionna Nguyen has led the way for the Highlanders at first singles and has been a mainstay at No. 1 doubles throughout the season. It was senior Sydney Tran who picked up UC Riverside's only point last time out against UC Davis, as she earned a 6-3, 6-2 decision at No. 6 singles.
• Sofia Lazzaroni, who led the Highlanders with a 6-2 singles record in 2023, was lost to graduation.
• Bucknell and UC Riverside were last scheduled to meet in March 2020, but the match was canceled due to the COVID-10 pandemic.
Scouting Westmont
• The Warriors fell to 1-7 with their most recent loss to Fresno Pacific. Their lone win of the season came against Whittier back on Feb. 23.
• Westmont sophomore Justie Spitzer's 2-2 record in duals leads the team, playing all four of her matches at No. 6 singles. Four different Warriors have earned a doubles win. The team is 0-5 at first doubles, 1-6 at second doubles, and 1-5 at third doubles.
• In Westmont's win over Whittier, the Warriors won two of three in doubles and five of six in singles play.
A Look Ahead
• Bucknell returns to Lewisburg to host Duqesne on Saturday, March 23. They resume Patriot League play the following day at Navy.
Players Mentioned
