Lehigh heads to Virginia to battle JMU, Georgetown
Posted: 03/01/2012 | Last updated: March 1, 2012 at 02:33 PM
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After two losses last weekend against Stony Brook and Binghamton, the Lehigh men’s tennis team hopes to get back to their winning ways this weekend in Virginia against James Madison and Georgetown. The Mountain Hawks will face the Dukes on Friday at 1 p.m. in Harrisonburg, Va. and the Hoyas in Alexandria, Va. Saturday at 3 p.m.
The Mountain Hawks (6-3) did have a few standout performances despite the losses last weekend. Lehigh’s No. 2 doubles team of junior Matt Savran and freshman Ben Gilman went 2-0 on the weekend, while team of junior Andrew Krentz and sophomore Timur Chernykh clinched the doubles point versus Stony Brook with a tiebreak win at No. 3 doubles.
Gilman has continued an outstanding start to his rookie season in singles play, by winning both of his matches versus Stony Brook and Binghamton. He has moved up to the No. 3 spot in Lehigh’s lineup and leads the Mountain Hawks with an 8-1 overall record in singles this year. Another freshman, DJ Goldblum had a strong performance in a win against Stony Brook at No. 6 singles, while No. 1 singles player Mark Goldberg picked up a singles win against the Bearcats.
James Madison is a new addition to Lehigh’s schedule. The Dukes will open their home schedule Friday against Lehigh. JMU is 3-2 on the spring season with wins over Robert Morris, Christopher Newport and East Carolina and losses to Duquesne and Old Dominion.
Like Lehigh, Georgetown owns a 6-3 mark this spring. The Hoyas are coming off a 4-3 win over Lehigh’s Patriot League rival Navy last Friday in Annapolis. Last year the Mountain Hawks beat Georgetown 4-3 at the Lewis Tennis Center.
With no spring break matches on the schedule this year, Lehigh will return home to face Saint Francis (Pa.) March 17 at 1 p.m. before heading to Philadelphia the following day to face Saint Joseph’s at 1 p.m.
Story by Opeyemi Akinbamidele’12