Cutchogue, N.Y., native earns award for second time this season

RINDGE, N.H. (April 22, 2002) - Franklin Pierce freshman Maciej Szpakowski (Cutchogue, N.Y./Mattituck) was named the Northeast-10 Conference men's tennis Freshman of the Week by the Conference office this afternoon.

Szpakowski, who earns the award for the second time this season, posted a combined 3-1 week at the No. 3 and No. 4 singles positions for Franklin Pierce last week. He also teamed with junior Art Shannon (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) to post a 4-1 clip at No. 2 doubles.

Szpakowski started off the week with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles and an 8-2 decision in doubles as Franklin Pierce posted a 7-2 win over Merrimack College. In the Ravens 8-1 decision over UMass Lowell he picked up a 6-1, 6-2 win in singles and 8-0 doubles victory. He and Shannon posted an 8-4 decision in Franklin Pierce's key 5-4 win at Bentley on Thursday.

The Ravens earned the No. 2 seed in the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament over the weekend and Szpakowski aided a 5-1 quarterfinal win over Stonehill College as he claimed a 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 4 singles and helped pick up an 8-6 decision in doubles.

Szpakowski sports an 11-9 overall record (8-3 NE-10) in singles play this season for the Ravens. He is 7-4 at No. 3 singles (5-1 NE-10) and 3-5 at No. 4 singles (2-2 NE-10). He and Shannon have posted a 7-1 doubles record (6-1 NE-10) this spring, which includes a 5-0 clip (5-0 NE-10) at the No. 2 spot. Szpakowski is 18-7 overall in doubles play with three different partners.

Franklin Pierce (15-11, 10-2 NE-10) awaits word on a potential NCAA Division II Tournament berth to be announced tomorrow morning.