April 2, 2009

Center Valley, Pa.- With the men's and women's championships a little over two and three weeks away, respectively, Patriot League tennis kicks into high gear this weekend. The Lehigh and Lafayette men's teams start the weekend off with a match on Thursday at 3 p.m. Student-athletes from Navy and Army were selected as the Male and Female Tennis Players of the Month.

Patriot League Tennis Release - 4.2.09

Male Tennis Player of the Month

Jason Hill, Navy Sr., Marietta, Ga.

Hill posted a 6-1 record in singles in March, including marks of 5-0 against regional opponents and 2-0 against League foes. Hill lost a combined four games in winning his two singles matches against Bucknell and Colgate. The senior teamed with Nick Birger for a 6-1 record at No. 2 doubles for the Mids. Hill ranks 24th in Navy history with 93 career combined singles and doubles wins in dual matches and is tied for 15th with 50 career doubles wins in dual matches.

Female Tennis Player of the Month

Anne Houghton, Army So., Sewickley, Pa.

Houghton went undefeated in singles (8-0) while posting a 9-1 doubles record with partner Kristin Beehler for the month. The sophomore played in the top singles flight of all eight matches she played in March, and was only pushed to three sets twice. Houghton has not lost a singles match since Feb. 22, and rattled off nine straight wins to close the month. Her 25-11 season record topped her 24-win total from last year and moves her into a tie for sixth place on Army's all-time ledger.

Patriot League Notebook

Lots of Patriot League Tennis on the Docket This Weekend

With the men's and women's championships a little over two and three weeks away, respectively, Patriot League tennis kicks into high gear this weekend. Starting Thursday, Lafayette's and Lehigh's men's teams will lock up in Bethlehem, while Friday features men's matches between Lafayette and Army and Holy Cross and Army. On Saturday, the Lafayette and Holy Cross women's teams will both face Army in West Point, while both Colgate teams will host both Bucknell teams on Saturday as well. Both Holy Cross and Lafayette teams will face off in West Point, while the Navy and Lehigh men will square off at Lehigh Saturday afternoon. Sunday features a men's matchup of rivals Army and Navy, while both Holy Cross and Lehigh teams face off as well.

2009 Patriot League Championship Info

The 2009 Patriot League Championships will take place over the course of two weekends during the month of April. The men will kick things off when they travel to Army for the 2009 Patriot League Men's Tennis Championship. The men's event will take place Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19. The women will meet in Lewisburg, Pa. on the campus of Bucknell University for the 2009 Patriot League Women's Tennis Championship. The women's event will take place Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26.

Team Notebook

Army The Army men currently sit second in the Patriot League standings after beating Lehigh, 5-2, on March 28. The Black Knight women are in the midst of their longest win streak in program history (in the same season), having won their last 16 matches in a row to improve to 18-7 overall and 1-0 in the Patriot League. The Army women face Lafayette and Holy Cross in West Point this weekend.

Bucknell Bucknell women now sit at 11-5 overall this season. The Bison will have their first League match of the season at Colgate on Saturday at 2 p.m. For the men, senior Daniel Bednarek is now 9-3 this spring in singles. Bucknell lost to Navy in its only League match of the season, and is sitting at 5-7 overall. The Bison will also take on Colgate on Saturday.

Colgate The Raider men went 5-2 overall in the month of March and are 1-1 in the Patriot League behind a strong showing from senior Martin MacIntyre. The senior teamed with John Nogueras to go 5-2 in top flight doubles matches last month. The Colgate women sit at 5-10 overall, 0-2 in League play. Both Raider teams will face the Bison on Saturday.

Holy Cross The Crusader women are 3-3 this spring and have won three straight matches. On the men's side, the Crusaders are 2-6 overall this spring and will face Army, Lafayette and Lehigh this weekend in League play.

Lafayette The Lafayette men are currently 4-6 this spring and will open their Patriot League docket with a match against archrival Lehigh on Thursday afternoon. The Leopard women are 5-5 this spring and will face Army and Holy Cross this weekend.

Lehigh The Lehigh men fell to 0-2 in Patriot League play after dropping matches to Army and Colgate last month. The Mountain Hawks will look to pick up a League win against archrival Lafayette on Thursday. The Lehigh women 4-8 overall and 1-0 in League play. The Mountain Hawk women face Holy Cross on Sunday

Navy The Mids sit atop the League standings with a 2-0 record after beating Bucknell and Colgate last month. Navy will face Lehigh and archrival Army in League play this weekend before heading to Easton to play Lafayette on Apr. 9.