HAMILTON – The Colgate men's tennis team is set to compete in the Patriot League Tournament on Friday as the Raiders play Bucknell at 11 a.m.
 
Colgate earned the fifth seed in the nine-team tournament this year. The Raiders are currently 3-5 overall with a 3-2 Patriot League record.
 
Head coach Bobby Pennington is excited for the return of the Patriot League Tournament after last season's tournament was canceled.
 
"We were 7-3 last year when the pandemic hit, and we were really poised to do big things," Pennington said. "We thought we would make a deep run in the tournament. So, to have it come this year, to have everybody relatively healthy and having a Patriot League season before this is definitely a blessing."
 
DYNAMIC DOUBLES
The Raiders have been incredibly successful at securing the early lead by winning the doubles point. In the eight matches the team has competed in this season, Colgate has won six of the doubles points.
 
Leading the way for Colgate in doubles is senior Francis Scott Bickel and sophomore Jack Selati. The duo is 6-1 this year in doubles play, with their only loss against nonconference opponent Temple. Senior Jack Ablon and junior Nate Romig have also had a stellar season at doubles as the two have gone 5-3 in matches.
 
"The doubles point is big in general for momentum," Pennington said. "It's big to get that point because it's difficult to win four singles matches against a really good team as opposed to three, and we really take pride in our doubles."
 
WE'VE GOT HISTORY
Colgate squared off with Bucknell earlier this season and lost 4-1. Playing to clinch, the match was incredibly competitive throughout as the Raiders took the early 1-0 lead with the doubles point. When the match was called, senior Francis Scott Bickel was in a close match at No. 1 singles and first-year Mike Thomas was tied in his match at No. 6 singles.
 
"Knowing we have the 4/5 matchup, it definitely helps to know who you're playing," Pennington said. "I think there will be many of the same matchups as the first time we played when it was ridiculously close. So, it helps having that familiarity."
 
The Bison and Raiders competed in the 2018 Patriot League Tournament, with Colgate clinching the 4-2 win. In the marathon battle, Bickel won his singles match 6-3, 6-4 and Ablon got the win in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.
 
"When we hosted the tournament in 2018, it was our seniors' freshman year," Pennington said. "It does feel like Déjà vu because three years later, it's the same exact matchup. We definitely respect them and they're a high-quality opponent. It's an amazing rivalry that we've had with them over the years."
 
THE TOURNAMENT
Lehigh hosts the tournament this year, which starts Thursday. No. 8-seeded Lafayette and No. 9-seeded Holy Cross compete Thursday, with the winner taking on No. 1-seeded Navy in the first quarterfinal game. Should the Raiders advance, they play the winner of that contest Saturday at 11 a.m.
 
The championship game is set for Sunday at noon. The full schedule is below.
 
Thursday, April 22 – First Round
No. 8 Lafayette vs. No. 9 Holy Cross, 3 p.m.
 
Friday, April 23 – Quarterfinals
No. 1 Navy vs. 8/9 winner, 11 a.m.
No. 4 Bucknell vs No. 5 Colgate, 11 a.m.
No. 3 Lehigh vs. No. 6 Boston University, 3 p.m.
No. 2 Lehigh vs. No. 7 Loyola, 3 p.m.
 
Saturday, April 24 – Semifinals
1/8/9 winner vs. 4/5 winner, 11 a.m.
3/6 winner vs. 2/7 winner, 3 p.m.
 
Sunday, April 25 – Championship
Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner, 12 p.m.
 
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate men's and women's tennis program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateMWTennis and on Instagram at colgatemwtennis.