Men's Tennis Set for Patriot League Tournament
April 24, 2014 | Men's Tennis
April 24, 2014
Patriot League Tournament Central
BOSTON - Seeking the program's first conference title since 1996, the No. 2-seeded Boston University men's tennis team will open the Patriot League Tournament on Friday afternoon at Army's Malek Courts.
Led by interim head coach Dejan Stankovic, the Terriers (8-9) will kick off their first appearance in the event against fellow newcomer and seventh-seeded Loyola Maryland (12-7-1) at 2 p.m.
BU went 4-1 in conference action with wins over No. 5 Colgate (5-2), No. 6 Bucknell (5-2) No. 8 Lafayette (7-0) and No. 9 Holy Cross (7-0). The lone loss came in a hard-fought 5-2 defeat to top-seeded Army. The Terriers had their chances to beat the Black Knights but lost a doubles tiebreaker and the No. 5 singles point in which they had five match points.
While members of the America East, the Terriers claimed a total of four titles (1988, 1993, 1994 and 1996). To get the opportunity to win the Patriot League, BU will have to win its fifth straight quarterfinal contest and then its first semifinal match since 1999 against either No. 3 Navy or No. 6 Bucknell.
The Midshipmen went 16-9 this season and 3-2 in conference action with losses to Colgate and Army. They did edge the defending Patriot League champs Lehigh, 4-3, in their final match of the regular season.
BU enters the competition with seven players owning at least five singles wins in dual action. Senior Chanon Varapongsittikul is 6-10 at the No. 1 slot. Fellow classmate Jesse Frieder owns a team-high eight singles wins with a 5-7 mark at No. 2 and 3-0 record in the No. 3 slot.
Sophomore Stefan Lemire has been a steadying force in the middle of the lineup with a 2-3 record in the No. 2 spot and 5-3 mark at No. 3 singles. Both freshman Mario Sandoval and junior Emilio Teran own 7-7 records, while freshman Jay Leelavanich is 6-6. Freshman Lucas Bombonatti posted a 5-3 record in his first season.
In doubles, Leelavanich and freshman Jake De Vries lead BU with an 8-5 record in the No. 3 slot. Lemire and Sandoval are 6-6 at No. 2 doubles, while Frieder and Varapongsittikul are 5-7 in the top slot.
2014 Patriot League Men's Tennis Tournament Schedule
Thursday, April 24 - First Round
No. 8 Lafayette vs. No. 9 Holy Cross, 3 p.m.
Friday, April 25 - Quarterfinals
No. 1 Army vs. Lafayette/Holy Cross winner, 9 a.m.
No. 4 Lehigh vs. No. 5 Colgate - 11 a.m.
No. 2 Boston University vs. No. 7 Loyola - 2 p.m.
No. 3 Navy vs. No. 6 Bucknell - 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 26 - Semifinals
Army/Lafayette/Holy Cross winner vs. Lehigh/Colgate winner - 10 a.m.
Boston University/Loyola winner vs. Navy/Bucknell winner - 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 27 - Championship - 1 p.m.
