Men’s Tennis Sweeps Colgate 4-0, Moves on to Patriot League Semifinals

Friday, April 26

West Point, N.Y.

12:45 p.m.

Bucknell University

Colgate (PL Quarterfinals)

Photo by: Ben Popko

Men’s Tennis Sweeps Colgate 4-0, Moves on to Patriot League Semifinals

4/26/2024 7:21:00 PM | Men's Tennis

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WEST POINT, N.Y. – The third-seeded Bucknell men's tennis team made quick work of No. 6 Colgate in the quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Tournament on Friday, and the Bison are set up for a rematch with No. 2 Navy in the semifinals on Saturday. The Midshipmen, who handled Loyola 4-0 on Friday, eliminated Bucknell in a down-to-the-wire 4-3 match in last year's semis.

Bucknell earned its first 7-0 win over Colgate in series history earlier this month, and the Bison earned another sweep in this one. Wins by 6-3 and 6-1 at second and third doubles got them off to a good start, and then Bucknell won all six opening sets in singles. All postseason matches are played to clinch, and Adam Stavrakas (No. 2), Amar Tahirovic (No. 1), and Tim Zelikovsky (No. 5) were the first to finish.

Tahirovic was a 6-1, 6-2 winner over Benito Vlassis in the top spot in the lineup. It was the sixth straight win for the sophomore, who is now 26-6 in singles on the season. Stavrakas ran past Josh Israel 6-1, 6-0 on Court 2, and Zelikovsky clinched it with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Mike Thomas at No. 5.

Zelikovsky improved to 29-3 overall and 20-2 in duals on the season. The 29 wins are second-most in a season in team history.

Tahirovic teamed with freshman Liam Kilmer for the win at No. 2 doubles, and sophomore Brendan McDonald and freshman Will Robinson won 6-1 at No. 3.

Bucknell and Navy will meet at approximately 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Malek Tennis Center. No. 1 Boston University and No. 4 Army will meet in the first semifinal at 10 a.m.