Mountain Hawks set for three key home matches over next five days
Posted: 04/12/2012
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With the regular season winding down the Lehigh men’s tennis team wraps up its four-match home stand with a busy stretch of three matches in five days, beginning Friday when the Mountain Hawks host Marist in non-league action. The Mountain Hawks are coming off an impressive 6-1 win over Colgate last Saturday for its first league win this season.
The win over the Raiders upped the Mountain Hawks to 9-6 overall and 1-1 in the Patriot League this season. Lehigh swept the doubles matches and won five singles matches for its most lopsided win over Colgate in recent years. Freshman Ben Gilman improved to 12-2 on the year in singles action with a win at the No. 2 flight, while doubles partner Matt Savran clinched the match for the Mountain 
Hawks with a win at No. 4 singles. Gilman and sophomore Timur Chernykh are tied for the team lead with ten doubles wins. Chernykh has played at No. 3 doubles alongside junior Andrew Krentz.
These next three matches will also serve as the final home matches for Lehigh’s lone senior, Lativia native Edgars Rauza.
The busy stretch begins Friday when Lehigh welcomes Marist to the Ulrich Varsity Courts at 4 p.m. The Red Foxes are 8-5 overall but a perfect 3-0 in the MAAC and will use Friday’s match to gear up for key league matches at Loyola (Md.) and Rider.
On Sunday the Black Knights of Army visit Bethlehem in a rematch of last year’s Patriot League Championship match won by Army 4-2. The Black Knights are 12-9 overall and a perfect 3-0 in the league with wins over Lafayette, Holy Cross and Colgate. Army will open up a stretch of three matches in four days when the Black Knights host Bucknell on Thursday. The Black Knights will then head to Navy for the annual star match on Saturday before visiting Bethlehem on Sunday.
The stretch, and Lehigh’s home schedule concludes Tuesday when the Mountain Hawks host Bucknell. The Bison are 6-11 overall and 1-1 in the league and will play three matches in six days, concluding with their trip to Lehigh. Bucknell visits Army on Thursday and Lafayette on Sunday. Last year the Bison knocked off Lehigh 5-2 in Lewisburg.
Action begins Friday when Lehigh hosts Marist at 4 p.m. Sunday’s Lehigh-Army match is set for a noon start, while Tuesday’s Lehigh-Bucknell match will begin at 3 p.m.