Tuesday, April 12
4 p.m.
Lehigh University
4
vs
3
Bucknell
Lehigh grinds out 4-3 win over Bucknell on Senior Day
4/12/2016 8:31:00 PM | Men's Tennis
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's tennis team won the doubles point and the bottom three flights of singles to battle for a 4-3 win over visiting Bucknell Tuesday afternoon at the Ulrich Varsity Courts. The match came down to No. 5 singles where junior Colin Nardella was able to clinch the victory for the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh improves to 12-3 overall and 3-1 in Patriot League with the win, while Bucknell falls to 12-11 overall and 2-2 against league opponents.
" Another hard fought, blue collar 4-3 win for our men," said Howard Talmud '77 Head Coach Wouter Hendrix. "I credit our seniors Jeremy Kochman and Ricardo Prince who have been compelled leaders and culture builders for their entire careers. Beating a tenacious and talented team like Bucknell on Senior Day is special.
"Nardella played through illness and came through in the clutch with his trademark laser-sharp passing shots to clinch the match for us," continued Hendrix. "Winning the doubles point was refreshing. We can't wait for this weekend's challenge at West Point against Army and Boston."
The duo of sophomore Jack Petersen and freshman George Cooper got the afternoon started with a 6-2 win at the third flight of doubles before Bucknell evened it up with a 6-3 victory at the top flight. Senior Ricardo Prince and freshman Bryant Born then clinched the doubles point with a gutsy 7-5 victory at the second flight to put Lehigh ahead 1-0.
Junior Ethan Bogard opened singles action with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Timber Erskine at the sixth flight before freshman George Cooper picked up a 6-0, 6-4 against Andrei Vitiuc at No. 4 singles to give Lehigh a 3-0 match lead.
Bucknell battled back behind their top three singles players to tie the match at 3-3. Nick Bybel earned a 6-1, 6-4 over senior Jeremy Kochman at the top flight before Bryant Born fell 6-3, 7-5 at the third flight. Bucknell's Daniel Wright evened the match with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles.
Nardella responded by battling for a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Ben Gerber at No. 5 singles to clinch the 4-3 Lehigh victory.
The Mountain Hawks return to action Friday and Saturday against Army and Boston University. Both matches will take place in West Point, N.Y.
Lehigh 4, Bucknell 3
Doubles
1. Bybel/Wright (Bucknell) def. Kochman/Lehman (Lehigh) 6-3
2. Prince/Born (Lehigh) def. Kane/Erskine (Bucknell) 7-5
3. Petersen/Cooper (Lehigh) def. Vitiuc/Gerber (Bucknell) 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
1. Nick Bybel (Bucknell) def. Jeremy Kochman (Lehigh) 6-1, 6-4
2. Daniel Wright (Bucknell) def. Jack Petersen (Lehigh) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
3. Max Cane (Bucknell) def. Bryant Born (Lehigh) 6-3, 7-5
4. George Cooper (Lehigh) def. Andrei Vitiuc (Bucknell) 6-0, 6-4
5. Colin Nardella (Lehigh) def. Ben Gerber (Bucknell) 7-5, 6-4
6. Ethan Bogard (Lehigh) def. Timber Erskine (Bucknell) 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6, 4, 1, 3, 2, 5
" Another hard fought, blue collar 4-3 win for our men," said Howard Talmud '77 Head Coach Wouter Hendrix. "I credit our seniors Jeremy Kochman and Ricardo Prince who have been compelled leaders and culture builders for their entire careers. Beating a tenacious and talented team like Bucknell on Senior Day is special.
"Nardella played through illness and came through in the clutch with his trademark laser-sharp passing shots to clinch the match for us," continued Hendrix. "Winning the doubles point was refreshing. We can't wait for this weekend's challenge at West Point against Army and Boston."
The duo of sophomore Jack Petersen and freshman George Cooper got the afternoon started with a 6-2 win at the third flight of doubles before Bucknell evened it up with a 6-3 victory at the top flight. Senior Ricardo Prince and freshman Bryant Born then clinched the doubles point with a gutsy 7-5 victory at the second flight to put Lehigh ahead 1-0.
Junior Ethan Bogard opened singles action with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Timber Erskine at the sixth flight before freshman George Cooper picked up a 6-0, 6-4 against Andrei Vitiuc at No. 4 singles to give Lehigh a 3-0 match lead.
Bucknell battled back behind their top three singles players to tie the match at 3-3. Nick Bybel earned a 6-1, 6-4 over senior Jeremy Kochman at the top flight before Bryant Born fell 6-3, 7-5 at the third flight. Bucknell's Daniel Wright evened the match with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles.
Nardella responded by battling for a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Ben Gerber at No. 5 singles to clinch the 4-3 Lehigh victory.
The Mountain Hawks return to action Friday and Saturday against Army and Boston University. Both matches will take place in West Point, N.Y.
Lehigh 4, Bucknell 3
Doubles
1. Bybel/Wright (Bucknell) def. Kochman/Lehman (Lehigh) 6-3
2. Prince/Born (Lehigh) def. Kane/Erskine (Bucknell) 7-5
3. Petersen/Cooper (Lehigh) def. Vitiuc/Gerber (Bucknell) 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
1. Nick Bybel (Bucknell) def. Jeremy Kochman (Lehigh) 6-1, 6-4
2. Daniel Wright (Bucknell) def. Jack Petersen (Lehigh) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
3. Max Cane (Bucknell) def. Bryant Born (Lehigh) 6-3, 7-5
4. George Cooper (Lehigh) def. Andrei Vitiuc (Bucknell) 6-0, 6-4
5. Colin Nardella (Lehigh) def. Ben Gerber (Bucknell) 7-5, 6-4
6. Ethan Bogard (Lehigh) def. Timber Erskine (Bucknell) 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6, 4, 1, 3, 2, 5
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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