Saturday, January 25
Bethlehem, Pa.
2:00 P.M.
Lehigh University
vs
Saint Francis
Men's Tennis begins its season on Saturday against the Red Flash of Saint Francis
1/24/2020 10:30:00 AM | Men's Tennis
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With fall competition and winter break behind us, the Lehigh men's tennis team will set off on its 2020 season on Saturday inside the Lewis Indoor Tennis Center. The Mountain Hawks will welcome in the Red Flash of Saint Francis for a 2:00 p.m. showdown.
Coming into this season, Lehigh is coming off a season in which they finished 13-8, while going 5-2 in Patriot League play. In postseason play, Lehigh came in as the No. 3 seed and defeated Colgate in the first round of play. Then, the Mountain Hawks dropped a heartbreaker to Army West Point in the semifinals.
FILLING IN
The Mountain Hawks had to replace two key contributors from last season in Christopher Auteri and Bryant Born. Born notched 10 wins last season in singles, while Auteri tallied nine wins for the Brown and White. Lehigh also lost George Cooper to graduation. The 2019 graduate registered a 6-3 mark a season ago.
NEW FACES
This season, there will be four new faces on the courts for the Mountain Hawks. Coach Wouter Hendrix brought in a strong freshman class consisting of Michael Bukhalo, Matt Kleiman, Jeremy Learner and Steven Nazraoff. The four freshmen all got time in the fall, their first time competing for Lehigh. Kleiman went 7-0 in singles play, while Learner totaled a 7-3 mark. Bukhalo managed to go 4-2 and Nazaroff went 1-1. In doubles, the pair of Bukhalo and Learner eclipsed a 6-1 mark.
LEADERSHIP
Despite losing two key components from last year's team, Lehigh returns a plethora number of athletes. Zach Elliott, Gary Fishkin, Harry Wang, Jacob Edelchik and Jack Martin-Dyer all return after playing a key role last year. In fall play, Fishkin paced the Mountain Hawks with eight wins in singles, while Wang and Elliott each captured seven wins in singles. The junior Edelchik tallied a 2-2 mark. Martin-Dyer did not compete in the fall, but he's geared up and ready to go on Saturday. Last year, the current senior tallied a 10-5 mark in singles.
QUOTABLE
"This team is very hungry. We had a good season last year and we were so close to beating Army in the Patriot League semifinals," said head coach Wouter Hendrix. "These guys are determined and motivated to have a great season. I can really tell that our team is excited to begin the season. There are some jitters, however our team worked extremely hard over fall and winter break. I feel confident."
SCOUTING SAINT FRANCIS
The Red Flash started their season last week, dropping a road contest to the Bears of Morgan State, 4-1. Junior Sebastian Pinos recorded the lone win for the Red Flash in No. 1 singles. In June of 2019, Saint Francis reinstated its men's tennis team. The program was suspended during the 2018-19 season.
LAST MEETING
In 2017, Lehigh managed to get a win over Saint Francis, 4-3. Both teams won three singles matches, but Lehigh took two doubles matches to get the point and the win.
UP NEXT
After Saturday's bout against Saint Francis, the Mountain Hawks will have a week to prepare until their next match. They will then welcome in the Siena Saints next Saturday for a 5:00 p.m. match.
Coming into this season, Lehigh is coming off a season in which they finished 13-8, while going 5-2 in Patriot League play. In postseason play, Lehigh came in as the No. 3 seed and defeated Colgate in the first round of play. Then, the Mountain Hawks dropped a heartbreaker to Army West Point in the semifinals.
FILLING IN
The Mountain Hawks had to replace two key contributors from last season in Christopher Auteri and Bryant Born. Born notched 10 wins last season in singles, while Auteri tallied nine wins for the Brown and White. Lehigh also lost George Cooper to graduation. The 2019 graduate registered a 6-3 mark a season ago.
NEW FACES
This season, there will be four new faces on the courts for the Mountain Hawks. Coach Wouter Hendrix brought in a strong freshman class consisting of Michael Bukhalo, Matt Kleiman, Jeremy Learner and Steven Nazraoff. The four freshmen all got time in the fall, their first time competing for Lehigh. Kleiman went 7-0 in singles play, while Learner totaled a 7-3 mark. Bukhalo managed to go 4-2 and Nazaroff went 1-1. In doubles, the pair of Bukhalo and Learner eclipsed a 6-1 mark.
LEADERSHIP
Despite losing two key components from last year's team, Lehigh returns a plethora number of athletes. Zach Elliott, Gary Fishkin, Harry Wang, Jacob Edelchik and Jack Martin-Dyer all return after playing a key role last year. In fall play, Fishkin paced the Mountain Hawks with eight wins in singles, while Wang and Elliott each captured seven wins in singles. The junior Edelchik tallied a 2-2 mark. Martin-Dyer did not compete in the fall, but he's geared up and ready to go on Saturday. Last year, the current senior tallied a 10-5 mark in singles.
QUOTABLE
"This team is very hungry. We had a good season last year and we were so close to beating Army in the Patriot League semifinals," said head coach Wouter Hendrix. "These guys are determined and motivated to have a great season. I can really tell that our team is excited to begin the season. There are some jitters, however our team worked extremely hard over fall and winter break. I feel confident."
SCOUTING SAINT FRANCIS
The Red Flash started their season last week, dropping a road contest to the Bears of Morgan State, 4-1. Junior Sebastian Pinos recorded the lone win for the Red Flash in No. 1 singles. In June of 2019, Saint Francis reinstated its men's tennis team. The program was suspended during the 2018-19 season.
LAST MEETING
In 2017, Lehigh managed to get a win over Saint Francis, 4-3. Both teams won three singles matches, but Lehigh took two doubles matches to get the point and the win.
UP NEXT
After Saturday's bout against Saint Francis, the Mountain Hawks will have a week to prepare until their next match. They will then welcome in the Siena Saints next Saturday for a 5:00 p.m. match.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ 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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