HAMILTON – The men's tennis team will begin its 2024 playoff campaign with a duel against No. 3 Bucknell on Friday, April 26, at 12:45 on the campus of Army West Point. Head Coach Bobby Pennington's bunch enters the postseason on a hot streak having defeated Loyola and Stonehill in the final two duels of the regular season by a combined 10-2 score.

"The men are chomping at the bit for the opportunity as the six seed to take down the three seed Bucknell," Pennington said. "We can't be going in with more momentum and confidence winning our last two matches decisively where Mike Thomas has been the catalyst." 

"Bucknell is an extremely talented team who has had a great year thus far, but tournament play is a different animal," he continued. "I can guarantee our guys will come out super hungry and energetic looking to set the tone in doubles." 

While first-year Jerome Falcon has emerged as a force towards the end of the lineup, senior Mike Thomas has been perfect since his return from injury with an unblemished 2-0 record in the fifth singles slot. 

Falcon, the only first-year in the lineup with a singles victory this season, joins Thomas as the only Raiders with a winning record this season in singles play boasting a 9-6 mark. 

In doubles competition, Falcon and Parker McGowan have been dynamic on the third court with a 6-1 record, their only loss coming to top-seeded Boston University. 

Josh Israel and Benito Vlassis are also a force to be reckoned with in the top slot, sporting a 9-8 mark as a duo and winning their final three matchups of the regular season.

Colgate and Bucknell most recently squared off in playoff competition in 2021, where the Raiders triumphed, 4-3. Colgate also claimed a 4-2 victory over the Bison in the 2018 Patriot League Quarterfinals but was bested by Bucknell, 7-0, earlier this season.

In the history of the program, the men's tennis team has never finished lower than the sixth seed, owning a 13-29 Patriot League Playoff record and a 4-4 mark against the Bison in postseason competition.