Sunday, January 19
2:00 pm
Lehigh University
vs
Drexel
Lehigh men to begin quest for second straight league title this weekend
1/17/2014 11:25:00 AM | Men's Tennis
The 2013 Lehigh men's tennis season was arguably the finest in program history. Under the direction of first-year head coach Wouter Hendrix, the Mountain Hawks posted an 18-6 record that included a perfect 11-0 mark at home. The Mountain Hawks outlasted Bucknell in a marathon Patriot League semifinal and then bested Navy 4-0 to claim their first-ever Patriot League title as Lehigh advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school annals.
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The Mountain Hawks lost two very accomplished seniors to graduation, but with the top three players from last year's championship squad returning plus a talented freshman class, the pieces are in place for Lehigh to make another run at a title in 2014.
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"We're going to miss Matt Savran and Andrew Krentz," Hendrix said. "Matt was MVP of the Patriot League Tournament and Andrew was just so solid at No. 5 singles. They were great leaders. It's going to be a challenge for the freshmen to fill in for those guys, but we're confident we have the players that can pull it off."
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Senior Mark Goldberg returns as the most experienced player on Lehigh's roster. A second team All-Patriot League selection last year and a three-time All-League performer overall, Goldberg saw time at each of the top two singles flights while also manning the No. 1 doubles spots alongside Mitchell Petersen. Â
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Timur Chernykh is Lehigh's other senior posted a 15-5 singles record at the bottom of the Mountain Hawks' lineup and looks for a bigger role in his final season.
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Juniors Ben Gilman and Petersen have also established themselves as top performers for the Mountain Hawks. Gilman is a two-time first team All-Patriot League selection who has 30 total singles wins in the top two flights in his first two seasons plus a team-leading 16 doubles victories in 2013. Petersen is a two-time second team All-League selection. Playing primarily at No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles, Petersen tied for the team lead with 17 singles victories a year ago.
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Lehigh's sophomore class features lefty Jeremy Kochman and Ricardo Prince. Kochman won nine of ten singles matches and was a mainstay at No. 2 doubles, while Prince seeks an expanded role in his second season.
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Five freshmen have also been added to the mix with Ethan Bogard, Tyler Hansen, Colin Nardella and Jason Sutker competing in the fall and Graham Lehman joining the squad as a walk-on.
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The Mountain Hawks will play their traditional schedule that features 11 of their first 12 matches in the friendly confines of the Lewis Tennis Center, plus an early season challenge at Penn State. Patriot League tennis expanded to nine teams with the additions of Boston University and Loyola. Lehigh will play six of the other eight schools beginning with a road tilt at Loyola on March 30.
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Army will host the Patriot League Tournament April 25-27 at West Point, N.Y.
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"Entering this season it hasn't been about defending a championship," Hendrix said. "Everyone starts from scratch and we have to go earn it. This group has a great work ethic and great team chemistry, like last year's group. It's going to be a challenge, but this team is always up for a challenge."
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The Mountain Hawks will open the 2014 season Sunday against Drexel. First serves are set for 2 p.m. from the Lewis Tennis Center. The Dragons are also opening their spring campaign Sunday after a 9-6 season last year. Lehigh defeated Drexel 6-1 in last year's season opener.
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"I scheduled an early match on purpose," Hendrix said. "I feel like at this time playing matches is the best practice for our team. We're looking to hit the ground running and see where we are as a team."
Â
The Mountain Hawks lost two very accomplished seniors to graduation, but with the top three players from last year's championship squad returning plus a talented freshman class, the pieces are in place for Lehigh to make another run at a title in 2014.
Â
"We're going to miss Matt Savran and Andrew Krentz," Hendrix said. "Matt was MVP of the Patriot League Tournament and Andrew was just so solid at No. 5 singles. They were great leaders. It's going to be a challenge for the freshmen to fill in for those guys, but we're confident we have the players that can pull it off."
Â
Senior Mark Goldberg returns as the most experienced player on Lehigh's roster. A second team All-Patriot League selection last year and a three-time All-League performer overall, Goldberg saw time at each of the top two singles flights while also manning the No. 1 doubles spots alongside Mitchell Petersen. Â
Â
Timur Chernykh is Lehigh's other senior posted a 15-5 singles record at the bottom of the Mountain Hawks' lineup and looks for a bigger role in his final season.
Â
Juniors Ben Gilman and Petersen have also established themselves as top performers for the Mountain Hawks. Gilman is a two-time first team All-Patriot League selection who has 30 total singles wins in the top two flights in his first two seasons plus a team-leading 16 doubles victories in 2013. Petersen is a two-time second team All-League selection. Playing primarily at No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles, Petersen tied for the team lead with 17 singles victories a year ago.
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Lehigh's sophomore class features lefty Jeremy Kochman and Ricardo Prince. Kochman won nine of ten singles matches and was a mainstay at No. 2 doubles, while Prince seeks an expanded role in his second season.
Â
Five freshmen have also been added to the mix with Ethan Bogard, Tyler Hansen, Colin Nardella and Jason Sutker competing in the fall and Graham Lehman joining the squad as a walk-on.
Â
The Mountain Hawks will play their traditional schedule that features 11 of their first 12 matches in the friendly confines of the Lewis Tennis Center, plus an early season challenge at Penn State. Patriot League tennis expanded to nine teams with the additions of Boston University and Loyola. Lehigh will play six of the other eight schools beginning with a road tilt at Loyola on March 30.
Â
Army will host the Patriot League Tournament April 25-27 at West Point, N.Y.
Â
"Entering this season it hasn't been about defending a championship," Hendrix said. "Everyone starts from scratch and we have to go earn it. This group has a great work ethic and great team chemistry, like last year's group. It's going to be a challenge, but this team is always up for a challenge."
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The Mountain Hawks will open the 2014 season Sunday against Drexel. First serves are set for 2 p.m. from the Lewis Tennis Center. The Dragons are also opening their spring campaign Sunday after a 9-6 season last year. Lehigh defeated Drexel 6-1 in last year's season opener.
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"I scheduled an early match on purpose," Hendrix said. "I feel like at this time playing matches is the best practice for our team. We're looking to hit the ground running and see where we are as a team."
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Tennis
Thursday, April 03
Season Preview Men's Tennis
Thursday, January 30
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Tennis
Wednesday, March 20
