Friday, April 18
Lewisburg, Pa.
1:30 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Holy Cross
Photo by: Lucas Morrell
#3 Lehigh To Face #6 Holy Cross In Patriot League Quarterfinals
4/17/2025 12:21:00 PM | Men's Tennis
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The postseason begins for Lehigh men's tennis on Friday afternoon on the campus of Bucknell University in the quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Championship. The third-seeded Mountain Hawks will take on the sixth-seeded Holy Cross Crusaders at 1:30 p.m.
Last season, the fifth-seeded Mountain Hawks fell in the quarterfinals to No. 4 Army West Point 4-2. The defending champion Boston University Terriers enter this season's tournament as the ninth seed. The Navy Midshipmen hold the first seed in this year's championship while the host Bucknell Bison claim the second seed. Lehigh was the two seed for their lone Patriot League championship in 2013.
The Mountain Hawks and Crusaders met in the final match of the regular season on April 12, resulting in a 4-0 win for Lehigh. Doubles wins from Marc Blekhman/Sean Jaeger and Luke Donovan/Jose Murariu helped Lehigh take the opening doubles point while Murariu, Blekhman and Jaeger secured singles wins to clinch the victory.
Lehigh (12-9, 6-2 PL) enters the Patriot League Championship as the number three seed, the highest seed for the Mountain Hawks since the 2022 season. Lehigh's only two league losses came at the hands of the top-two seeded Navy Midshipmen and Bucknell Bison. The Mountain Hawks are led at number one singles by first-year Jose Murariu who boasts a 10-8 record and 4-2 mark in Patriot League play. Senior Marc Blekhman has been consistent as ever, recording an overall record of 14-6 and 6-1 mark in league play while primarily playing number two singles.
Holy Cross (8-10, 3-5 PL) enters Friday's matchup as the sixth seed in the Patriot League standings. The Crusaders found their league wins over Loyola, Lafayette and Boston U. this season. Ezequiel De La Plaza leads the Crusaders at number one singles, posting an overall record of 10-12 and 2-5 in league play.
The winner of Friday's match would go on to face the winner of No. 2 Bucknell vs. No. 7 Lafayette on Saturday, April 19 at 2 p.m. in Lewisburg. The winner of the semifinal will play for the championship on Sunday, April 20 at 1 p.m.
Singles
Jose Murariu (Lehigh) vs. Ezequiel De La Plaza (HC)
Marc Blekhman (Lehigh) vs. Matt Carlson (HC)
Sean Jaeger (Lehigh) vs. Cam Illanes (HC)
Ofer Hacohen (Lehigh) vs. Teddy Callery (HC)
Jackson Morash (Lehigh) vs. Patrick Ling (HC)
Benedict Horn-Bourque (Lehigh) vs. Alessandro Bizzarri (HC)
Doubles
Blekhman/Jaeger (Lehigh) vs. Jeremy Clark/De La Plaza (HC)
Luke Donovan/Murariu (Lehigh) vs. Carlson/Ling (HC)
Rafael Gracie/Hacohen (Lehigh) vs. Bizzarri/Callery (HC)
Â
Last season, the fifth-seeded Mountain Hawks fell in the quarterfinals to No. 4 Army West Point 4-2. The defending champion Boston University Terriers enter this season's tournament as the ninth seed. The Navy Midshipmen hold the first seed in this year's championship while the host Bucknell Bison claim the second seed. Lehigh was the two seed for their lone Patriot League championship in 2013.
The Mountain Hawks and Crusaders met in the final match of the regular season on April 12, resulting in a 4-0 win for Lehigh. Doubles wins from Marc Blekhman/Sean Jaeger and Luke Donovan/Jose Murariu helped Lehigh take the opening doubles point while Murariu, Blekhman and Jaeger secured singles wins to clinch the victory.
Lehigh (12-9, 6-2 PL) enters the Patriot League Championship as the number three seed, the highest seed for the Mountain Hawks since the 2022 season. Lehigh's only two league losses came at the hands of the top-two seeded Navy Midshipmen and Bucknell Bison. The Mountain Hawks are led at number one singles by first-year Jose Murariu who boasts a 10-8 record and 4-2 mark in Patriot League play. Senior Marc Blekhman has been consistent as ever, recording an overall record of 14-6 and 6-1 mark in league play while primarily playing number two singles.
Holy Cross (8-10, 3-5 PL) enters Friday's matchup as the sixth seed in the Patriot League standings. The Crusaders found their league wins over Loyola, Lafayette and Boston U. this season. Ezequiel De La Plaza leads the Crusaders at number one singles, posting an overall record of 10-12 and 2-5 in league play.
The winner of Friday's match would go on to face the winner of No. 2 Bucknell vs. No. 7 Lafayette on Saturday, April 19 at 2 p.m. in Lewisburg. The winner of the semifinal will play for the championship on Sunday, April 20 at 1 p.m.
Singles
Jose Murariu (Lehigh) vs. Ezequiel De La Plaza (HC)
Marc Blekhman (Lehigh) vs. Matt Carlson (HC)
Sean Jaeger (Lehigh) vs. Cam Illanes (HC)
Ofer Hacohen (Lehigh) vs. Teddy Callery (HC)
Jackson Morash (Lehigh) vs. Patrick Ling (HC)
Benedict Horn-Bourque (Lehigh) vs. Alessandro Bizzarri (HC)
Doubles
Blekhman/Jaeger (Lehigh) vs. Jeremy Clark/De La Plaza (HC)
Luke Donovan/Murariu (Lehigh) vs. Carlson/Ling (HC)
Rafael Gracie/Hacohen (Lehigh) vs. Bizzarri/Callery (HC)
Â
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
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
