Saturday, January 31
2:00:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Niagara
Men's Tennis to open 2015 season with home matches vs. Niagara, Monmouth
1/30/2015 11:58:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Men's Tennis Schedule
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The men's tennis team will begin their season this weekend with one goal in mind: win the Patriot League Tournament. Two years ago, in 2013, the Mountain Hawks did just that after sweeping Navy 4-0 in the conference final. Lehigh's bid at a repeat ended in the semifinals last year, but the Mountain Hawks enter the 2015 season with several key players still around from the title run, including Ben Gilman, a senior who has been chosen first team all league three years in a row.
Gilman will be a main factor if the Mountain Hawks are to return to the NCAA tournament. Last season, Gilman won a team-high 12 singles matches and he will have to produce in a similar fashion this season as the No. 1 player in the lineup for the Mountain Hawks.
"Ben is a class act, he embodies what being a student-athlete is about," said Howard Talmud '77 head coach Wouter Hendrix. "We are blessed to have him for one more season. He is in great shape, has improved his serve, and sets a terrific example."
While Gilman figures to be a significant part of the team, Hendrix stressed that each player is extremely important and they will have their own roles to fill. Young players such as Jack Petersen impressed in the fall and figure to assume major roles this season. Peterson, an Ann Arbor, Mich. native, will slide into the No. 2 spot, Hendrix said. Petersen and Dylan Karchere-Sun make up the freshmen class. Hendrix also said that the play of sophomore duo Colin Nardella and Ethan Bogard was encouraging in the fall. Nardella battled injuries in 2014 and hopes to stay healthy in 2015.
Tyler Hansen, another sophomore, impressed as a freshman and looks to build on the experience that he gained a year ago. Jason Sutker and Graham Lehman round out the sophomore class and will push for playing time.
Junior Jeremy Kochman has gained valuable experience over the last two seasons and finished second on the team with 11 singles wins and 12 doubles wins in 2014. His doubles partnership with Gilman will surely be something to watch for the Mountain Hawks. Junior Ricardo Prince made his varsity debut as a sophomore and will push for playing time this season.
Mitchel Petersen, a senior captain alongside Gilman, provides depth as well as an all around influence on the team. Petersen is an academic all Patriot League selection and played primarily in the No. 2 and No. 3 spots last season.
In order to achieve their goals, Hendrix highlighted fitness, punctuality, nutrition and good habits as things that the men's tennis team must do this season. If the team can do that, he said, they have the potential to compete for the league title.
"We struggled with injury last year so we have to stay healthy, but other than that you have to be willing to put in the work," Hendrix said. "I fully expect them to do that. I feel really good about this team and we have two intelligent captains."
While this will be Hendrix's third season at the helm of the men's tennis program, it is his first as the head coach of both the men and the women. Hendrix followed the footsteps of legendary coach Dave Shook in 2013, who retired in December. Shook spent the next two seasons with the women. Hendrix described being Shook's successor as a very humbling feeling.
"Coach Shook taught me everything I know about college tennis, so he's made a lasting impact on myself and our tennis program," Hendrix said. "He is my role model so it would be a real privilege if I could have the same type of success that he had."
The Mountain Hawks make their season debut on Saturday against Niagara before facing Monmouth on Sunday. In all, Lehigh will play its first nine matches inside the Lewis Tennis Center before embarking on a spring break trip to Florida. Patriot League play begins March 28 at home against Navy, while the regular season will conclude when the Mountain Hawks host rival Lafayette on April 13. Bucknell will host the Patriot League Tournament April 16-19.
Lehigh posted a 12-8 record a year ago and will host Niagara at 2 p.m. Saturday inside the Lewis Tennis Center. The Purple Eagles will face Lafayette Friday evening in their season opener. Niagara was 12-11 last season. Lehigh defeated Niagara 4-3 last season in Bethlehem. Sunday's Lehigh-Monmouth match is set for a noon start.
Story by Alex Buford '15
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The men's tennis team will begin their season this weekend with one goal in mind: win the Patriot League Tournament. Two years ago, in 2013, the Mountain Hawks did just that after sweeping Navy 4-0 in the conference final. Lehigh's bid at a repeat ended in the semifinals last year, but the Mountain Hawks enter the 2015 season with several key players still around from the title run, including Ben Gilman, a senior who has been chosen first team all league three years in a row.
Gilman will be a main factor if the Mountain Hawks are to return to the NCAA tournament. Last season, Gilman won a team-high 12 singles matches and he will have to produce in a similar fashion this season as the No. 1 player in the lineup for the Mountain Hawks.
"Ben is a class act, he embodies what being a student-athlete is about," said Howard Talmud '77 head coach Wouter Hendrix. "We are blessed to have him for one more season. He is in great shape, has improved his serve, and sets a terrific example."
While Gilman figures to be a significant part of the team, Hendrix stressed that each player is extremely important and they will have their own roles to fill. Young players such as Jack Petersen impressed in the fall and figure to assume major roles this season. Peterson, an Ann Arbor, Mich. native, will slide into the No. 2 spot, Hendrix said. Petersen and Dylan Karchere-Sun make up the freshmen class. Hendrix also said that the play of sophomore duo Colin Nardella and Ethan Bogard was encouraging in the fall. Nardella battled injuries in 2014 and hopes to stay healthy in 2015.
Tyler Hansen, another sophomore, impressed as a freshman and looks to build on the experience that he gained a year ago. Jason Sutker and Graham Lehman round out the sophomore class and will push for playing time.
Junior Jeremy Kochman has gained valuable experience over the last two seasons and finished second on the team with 11 singles wins and 12 doubles wins in 2014. His doubles partnership with Gilman will surely be something to watch for the Mountain Hawks. Junior Ricardo Prince made his varsity debut as a sophomore and will push for playing time this season.
Mitchel Petersen, a senior captain alongside Gilman, provides depth as well as an all around influence on the team. Petersen is an academic all Patriot League selection and played primarily in the No. 2 and No. 3 spots last season.
In order to achieve their goals, Hendrix highlighted fitness, punctuality, nutrition and good habits as things that the men's tennis team must do this season. If the team can do that, he said, they have the potential to compete for the league title.
"We struggled with injury last year so we have to stay healthy, but other than that you have to be willing to put in the work," Hendrix said. "I fully expect them to do that. I feel really good about this team and we have two intelligent captains."
While this will be Hendrix's third season at the helm of the men's tennis program, it is his first as the head coach of both the men and the women. Hendrix followed the footsteps of legendary coach Dave Shook in 2013, who retired in December. Shook spent the next two seasons with the women. Hendrix described being Shook's successor as a very humbling feeling.
"Coach Shook taught me everything I know about college tennis, so he's made a lasting impact on myself and our tennis program," Hendrix said. "He is my role model so it would be a real privilege if I could have the same type of success that he had."
The Mountain Hawks make their season debut on Saturday against Niagara before facing Monmouth on Sunday. In all, Lehigh will play its first nine matches inside the Lewis Tennis Center before embarking on a spring break trip to Florida. Patriot League play begins March 28 at home against Navy, while the regular season will conclude when the Mountain Hawks host rival Lafayette on April 13. Bucknell will host the Patriot League Tournament April 16-19.
Lehigh posted a 12-8 record a year ago and will host Niagara at 2 p.m. Saturday inside the Lewis Tennis Center. The Purple Eagles will face Lafayette Friday evening in their season opener. Niagara was 12-11 last season. Lehigh defeated Niagara 4-3 last season in Bethlehem. Sunday's Lehigh-Monmouth match is set for a noon start.
Story by Alex Buford '15
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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