BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 2022 Patriot League Men's Tennis season began Saturday, Jan. 15, as Army West Point made its first appearance at home against DePaul, Florida Atlantic, and Illinois State.
This weekend, Bucknell travels to Chapel Hill, N.C. and Harrisburg, Va., taking on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and James Madison. Loyola Maryland hosts their season opener against St. Bonaventure on Friday, Jan. 21. The defending Patriot League champions Navy will host Saint Francis and St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Jan. 22.
Boston University kicks off their season against Dartmouth on Saturday, Jan. 29, followed by Colgate in State College, Pa. against Penn State on Feb. 4, and Lehigh versus Marist on Feb. 5 in Bethlehem, Pa.
The last of the eight teams to start their 2022 season is Lafayette, as they take on Fairfield on Saturday, Feb. 12.
The 2022 Patriot League Championship will be held at U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., beginning on Thursday, Apr. 28, concluding on Sunday, May 1.
ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Jim Poling (20th season)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/0
All-League Returners: Sam Eden (2021 Second-Team), Diego Huttepain (2021 First-Team, 2019 Second-Team), Thomas Lake (2021 Second-Team)
Poling guided the Black Knights to its sixth-consecutive Patriot League Men's Tennis Championship final last season and will bring back three All-League selections, including First-Team member Diego Huttepain. Junior Sam Eden, joined by junior Thomas Lake, both members on the All-Patriot League second-team. All 12 members from last year’s Army squad return in 2022.
Head Coach Jim Poling on the Black Knights…
“I think we will be stronger this year. Everybody is back and improved. We have a couple of freshmen that may work their way into the top six. It should be an exciting season.”
BOSTON UNIVERSITY TERRIERS
Head Coach: Dejan Stankovic (7th season)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 4/7
All-League Returners: None
Stankovic and the Terriers are looking to build off their fall season and carry them into the spring 2022 competition schedule. After losing seven members from the 2021 roster to graduation, the young team is eager to compete.
Head Coach Dejan Stankovic on the Terriers…
"We are excited to have a season this year with a consistent schedule. The roster is young with just one upperclassman, but there's a lot of talent and, more importantly, hunger to make a run in the Patriot League. The guys can't wait to get started and compete."
BUCKNELL BISON
Head Coach: Bruce Myers (5th season)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 5/4
All-League Returners: None
Myers and the Bison return five letterwinners and add two first-years to the team to kick off the 2022 campaign. Despite losing four players from last year's team, the squad is looking forward to competing this spring and capitalizing on a full competition schedule.
Head Coach Bruce Myers on the Bison…
"We are excited that this spring season is more "normal" than what we experienced over the past two years. That being said, I think every program in the League is dealing with an unusual amount of unknowns, and we are no exception. We have two first-years, two student-athletes who opted out last year and have returned this year, and a solid group of returning players. That will make the first few matches of the spring very interesting. We have increased the level of competition early in the season with matches against North Carolina, Michigan State, Dartmouth, and Cornell, hopefully setting us up well for Patriot League matches starting at the end of March."
COLGATE RAIDERS
Head Coach: Bobby Pennington (16th season)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 7/3
All-League Returners: None
Pennington returns seven members from the 2021 team, who landed themselves in the 2021 Patriot League Championship semifinals. With a competitive 2022 season around the corner, the Raiders are ready to start.
Head Coach Bobby Pennington on the Raiders …
"The men look to build on their momentum from last year and strong finish in the Patriot League tournament, advancing to the semifinals. The men have proved to be consistently in the top four in the Patriot League three of the last four seasons, which is a tremendous accomplishment. This year's team is extremely deep from number one through twelve, as we have so much parity, depth, and a culture that is unique and second to none. We blend an extremely challenging non-conference schedule with four teams that could be in the national rankings and a competitive Patriot League schedule."
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS
Head Coach: Brad Walulak (8th season)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/2
All-League Returners: None
Walulak and the Crusaders are poised for a strong 2022 season, with nine returners and four starters returning to the team. With the full competition schedule set for the spring, the team is looking forward to playing.
Head Coach Brad Walulak on the Crusaders…
"We return four starters and are excited to compete after playing a limited schedule last year. The team is in full practice mode and ready for the rigors of Patriot League action."
LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS
Head Coach: Ralph Van Ormer (5th season)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 6/4
All-League Returners: None
Van Ormer and the Leopards return six letterwinners from the 2021 roster. With hopes to build off the fall season, the squad is excited to start competing this spring.
Head Coach Ralph Van Ormer on the Leopards…
"Our goal is to always compete at a high level. The Patriot League continues to get better every year, so we expect to continue to grow our team's level of play."
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS
Head Coach: Wouter Hendrix (9th season)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 6/2
All-League Returners: Zack Elliot (2021 First-Team)
Hendrix's squad is looking to the leadership of veteran Zack Elliot, a 2021 First-Team selection, to pave the way for the Mountain Hawks. Only losing two from last year's squad, one of them being Harry Wang, an All-League second team member, is ready to begin the 2022 season.
Head Coach Wouter Hendrix on the Mountain Hawks…
"We look forward to what will hopefully be an uninterrupted season filled with many great moments. We're very eager for the opportunity to get out there and compete. This is an incredible group of young men, and they deserve a chance to prove themselves playing a full schedule. Like everyone else, we are craving for a normal year, and we want to be able to work hard, have fun and represent our school to the best of our abilities."
LOYOLA MARYLAND GREYHOUNDS
Head Coach: Rick McClure (42nd season)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/3
All-League Returners: None
McClure and the Loyola Maryland tennis team return eight from the 2021 team. The Greyhounds will also welcome three first-years who will look to the four seniors to usher them into the 2022 season.
Head Coach Rick McClure on the Greyhounds…
"A slate of 20 duals will highlight the spring season for the Loyola men's tennis program. The Greyhounds will rely on the senior leadership of Skyler Gates, Edik Pribitkin, Benny Glezer, and Colin Corsini. All four have been contributors in singles and doubles for the team during their four years at Evergreen. Complimenting the upperclassmen will be sophomores Matt Cardano, Oliver Davey, and Nick Haggar, along with first-years George Cavo, Ryan Boland, and Liam Rompre. The team has a focus on representing Loyola and competing in the highly competitive Patriot League."
NAVY MIDSHIPMEN
Head Coach: Chris Garner (8th season)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 7/1
All-League Returners: Alexander Panyan (2021 Rookie of the Year, 2021 Doubles Team of the Year), Derrick Thompson (2021 First-Team).
After losing the sole senior and 2021 Player of the Year, Andrew Tan, the Mids return seven for the 2022 season. The defending 2021 Patriot League champions return two All-League selections in Alexander Panyan and Derrick Thompson out of the seven returnees. Garner and his squad are looking forward to competing in a full schedule this spring.
Head Coach Chris Garner on the Midshipmen…
"I am sure all the teams are looking forward to a full schedule of Patriot League play this spring. Hopefully, what happened last year is in the rear-view mirror. Getting a chance to compete in the Patriot League matches will benefit all participating student-athletes."
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.