Men's Tennis Sets Up Pair of All-Bison Finals at Bucknell Invitational

Bison Guaranteed Titles at Third Tournament of Season

Chris Tortora

Sept. 29, 2012

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LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bison men's tennis went 9-4 on the second day of the Bucknell Invitational, setting up all-Bucknell finals in two of the tournament's three flights. Octavio Canibe and Kelly Morque will meet Josh Katten and Evan Zimmer in the doubles championship, while Jonathan DeFrancesch and Chris Tortora will battle for the Flight B singles title.

With each of the finals matches being played between teammates, including the A singles final that will feature a pair from Duquesne, the championship matches will be played later in the week at campus sites.

Bucknell nearly went undefeated in doubles this weekend with the only loss so far coming to another Bison tandem. Katten and Zimmer defeated DeFrancesch and Tortora in the semis, 8-4, after DeFrancesch and Tortora had one of the closest bouts of the tournament during the quarterfinals where they beat the team from Bloomsburg, 9-8.

Canibe and Morque knocked out their Mount St. Mary's opponent 8-4 in the quarters, them eliminated Duquesne 8-3 to move into the final.

DeFrancesch and Tortora posted singles results that ranged from the quick to the tightly contested. In the quarterfinals, DeFrancesch defeated Coppin State's Roderick Peyton, 6-3, 6-0, and Tortora was a 6-1, 6-1 winner over Taylor Place of Mount St. Mary's.

Both Bison had to battle in their semifinal matches and the effort paid off. DeFrancesch overcame a second-set lull and eventually defeated Duquesne's Mehdi Mekaoui 6-3, 3-6, 10-8. Tortora also got the better of the Dukes, defeating Corey Robinson 2-6, 6-3, 10-4.

With titles guaranteed in two flights, Bucknell will have at least one title in three of their tournaments this fall. Nick Bybel and DeFrancesch claimed singles championships at the Bucknell Quad and Mount St. Mary's Invitational, respectively, earlier this season.

BUCKNELL RESULTS
Doubles - Quarterfinals
Canibe/Morque (Bucknell) def. Zabetakis/Blake (Mount St. Mary's), 8-4
DeFrancesch/Tortora (Bucknell) def. DiSanto/Machado (Bloomsburg), 9-8
Katten/Zimmer (Bucknell) def. Robbie/Robbinson (Duquesne), 8-1

Doubles- Semifinals
Canibe/Morque (Bucknell) def. Aleman/Carpenter (Duquesne), 8-3
Katten/Zimmer (Bucknell) def. DeFrancesch/Tortora (Bucknell), 8-4

Singles - Quarterfinals
A: Matt Blake (Mount St. Mary's) def. Octavio Canibe (Bucknell), 6-4, 6-2
A: Mike Soloman (Mount St. Mary's) def. Josh Katten (Bucknell), 2-6, 7-5, (10-4)
A: Rich Robbie (Duquesne) def. Evan Zimmer (Bucknell), 6-7, 6-2, (10-5)
B: Jonathan DeFrancesch (Bucknell) def. Roderick Peyton (Coppin State), 6-3, 6-0
B: Chris Tortora (Bucknell) def. Taylor Place (Mount St. Mary's), 6-1, 6-1

Singles - Semifinals
B: Jonathan DeFrancesch (Bucknell) def. Mehdi Mekaoui (Duquesne), 6-3, 3-6, (10-8)
B: Chris Tortora (Bucknell) def. Corey Robinson (Duquesne), 2-6, 6-3, (10-4)

Singles - Consolation
A: Austin Blake (Mount St. Mary's) def. Kelly Morque (Bucknell), 6-2, 7-5

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