March 30, 2008

Final Stats

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Navy tennis team recorded its second road victory over a Patriot League team in as many days Sunday when the Midshipmen tallied a 4-1 win over Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pa.

Navy improved to 15-7 on the season and 3-0 in league play with the win, while Bucknell fell to 7-5 on the year and 0-1 against league opponents with the loss.

Navy lost a combined total of nine games in sweeping the three doubles matches, but the Mids had to record three tough singles victories to come away with the overall win.

"We played extremely well in doubles, as we have all season," said Navy head coach John Officer. "We did all of the basic things you need to be do in order to be successful, like volleying well, returning serve strongly and getting our own first serve in. But after the doubles were completed, we knew Bucknell was going to make a run at us, and they did."

First off of the courts in singles was Ramsey Lemaich (So., Danville, Calif.), who ran his career singles record against Patriot League opponents to 8-0 with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) win at No. 4 singles over Jon Brenner.

Bucknell then pulled to within 2-1 when Zach Hascoe held off Jason Hill (Jr., Marietta, Ga.) by a score of 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 to win their No. 3 singles match.

The Mids secured the win when Nate Nelms (Jr., St. Mary's, Ga.) and Johnny Waters (Jr., Papillion, Neb.) both rallied after dropping the opening sets of their respective matches at Nos. 1 and 2 singles to post three-set victories. Nelms would record a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 win over Ira Reibeisen, while Waters tallied a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Ryan Sandburg.

"I was most impressed today by Nate and John, who came back after dropping the first sets of their matches to win," said Officer. "Their wins came at an important time of the match because of how Bucknell was playing.

"When you are the defending league champion, everyone is gunning for you. Bucknell was very determined today. I felt we did a good job of handling the pressure and responded well to the challenge, whether it was stepping up our game on the court or the team spirit coming from off of the court."

Navy will play its remaining four matches of the regular season at home, with the ensuing match for the Mids not taking place until April 8 when the squad plays host to UMBC.

Navy (15-7, 3-0 Patriot League) def. Bucknell (7-5, 0-1), 4-1
Doubles -- Navy wins the doubles point (match finish order: 3-2-1)
1. Nelms / Waters (N) def. Reibeisen / Sandburg, 8-4
2. James / Lemaich (N) def. Brenner / Kovic, 8-2
3. Nick Birger / Hill (N) def. Mark Malloy / Young, 8-3
Singles (match finish order: 4-3-1-2)
1. Nate Nelms (N) def. Ira Reibeisen, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
2. Johnny Waters (N) def. Ryan Sandburg, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
3. Zach Hascoe (B)) def. Jason Hill, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
4. Ramsey Lemaich (N) def. Jon Brenner, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Alex James (N) led Anton Kovic, 7-5, unfinished
6. Owen Bullard (N) tied Ben Young, 1-1, unfinished