Friday, April 21
Hamilton, N.Y.
10:45 AM
Lehigh University
vs
Bucknell (Quarterfinal)
Mountain Hawks to Open Patriot League Tournament Against Bucknell Friday
4/20/2023 10:41:00 AM | Men's Tennis
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The postseason has arrived for the Lehigh men's tennis team as the Mountain Hawks head to Hamilton, N.Y. for the Patriot League Tournament, hosted by Colgate on the J.W. Abrahamson Courts. Lehigh earned the No. 4 seed and will face No. 5 Bucknell in Friday's second quarterfinal, set for 10:45 a.m.
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Lehigh went 11-9 during the regular season and posted a 4-3 Patriot League record. The Mountain Hawks will open against the team they defeated last Saturday in the regular season finale. Lehigh won the doubles point and then won three of the top four singles flights to defeat Bucknell 4-3 April 15 inside the Lewis Tennis Center.
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Sophomore Marc Blekhman has led the way for Lehigh this year in both singles and doubles. Blekhman owns a team-best 14-5 singles record and a 13-6 doubles mark. He has played primarily at No. 3 singles and has juggled several doubles partners, most recently moving into the No. 1 spot with senior Matt Kleiman.
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Blekhman and Kleiman are 7-3 as a doubles team, tied with senior Jeremy Learner and junior Jordan Paul as Lehigh's winningest doubles pairings.
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Kleiman is expected to man No. 1 singles, where he has eight victories, while Learner likely slots in at No. 2. First-year Jackson Morash and senior Michael Bukhalo have seen the majority of time at the bottom two singles flights.
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Bukhalo is 4-0 playing alongside sophomore Sean Jaeger in doubles. Jaeger is second on the team in doubles wins with 11 on the season. Paul owns 10 doubles wins.
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Bucknell finished the regular season at 14-7 overall and 4-3 in the league. After falling at Lehigh Saturday, the Bison won at Holy Cross to close out the regular season.
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Last Saturday's victory gives Lehigh five straight wins over Bucknell in the series.
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The Mountain Hawks' lone Patriot League Tournament title came in 2013. Lehigh has advanced to the semifinal round in each of the last three tournaments.
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The Patriot League Tournament kicks off Thursday with the opening round match between No. 8 Loyola and No. 9 Holy Cross at 3 p.m.
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Friday's Lehigh-Bucknell match will follow the 9 a.m. match between No. 1 Navy and the winner of Thursday's match. The other quarterfinal matchups include No. 3 Boston University vs. No. 6 Colgate at 1:15 p.m. and No. 2 Army West Point vs. No. 7 Lafayette at 3:45 p.m.
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Saturday's semifinals are slated for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. with the championship match set for noon on Sunday.
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Lehigh went 11-9 during the regular season and posted a 4-3 Patriot League record. The Mountain Hawks will open against the team they defeated last Saturday in the regular season finale. Lehigh won the doubles point and then won three of the top four singles flights to defeat Bucknell 4-3 April 15 inside the Lewis Tennis Center.
Â
Sophomore Marc Blekhman has led the way for Lehigh this year in both singles and doubles. Blekhman owns a team-best 14-5 singles record and a 13-6 doubles mark. He has played primarily at No. 3 singles and has juggled several doubles partners, most recently moving into the No. 1 spot with senior Matt Kleiman.
Â
Blekhman and Kleiman are 7-3 as a doubles team, tied with senior Jeremy Learner and junior Jordan Paul as Lehigh's winningest doubles pairings.
Â
Kleiman is expected to man No. 1 singles, where he has eight victories, while Learner likely slots in at No. 2. First-year Jackson Morash and senior Michael Bukhalo have seen the majority of time at the bottom two singles flights.
Â
Bukhalo is 4-0 playing alongside sophomore Sean Jaeger in doubles. Jaeger is second on the team in doubles wins with 11 on the season. Paul owns 10 doubles wins.
Â
Bucknell finished the regular season at 14-7 overall and 4-3 in the league. After falling at Lehigh Saturday, the Bison won at Holy Cross to close out the regular season.
Â
Last Saturday's victory gives Lehigh five straight wins over Bucknell in the series.
Â
The Mountain Hawks' lone Patriot League Tournament title came in 2013. Lehigh has advanced to the semifinal round in each of the last three tournaments.
Â
The Patriot League Tournament kicks off Thursday with the opening round match between No. 8 Loyola and No. 9 Holy Cross at 3 p.m.
Â
Friday's Lehigh-Bucknell match will follow the 9 a.m. match between No. 1 Navy and the winner of Thursday's match. The other quarterfinal matchups include No. 3 Boston University vs. No. 6 Colgate at 1:15 p.m. and No. 2 Army West Point vs. No. 7 Lafayette at 3:45 p.m.
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Saturday's semifinals are slated for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. with the championship match set for noon on Sunday.
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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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