Franklin Pierce Splits at Bloomsburg
Shannon records third straight win at #5 singles over ranked opponents
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. (April 5, 2003) - The Franklin Pierce men's tennis team suffered a tough 5-4 loss to Queens College, ranked No. 5 in the Northeast region, in non-conference men's tennis action at the Bloomsburg Duels yesterday afternoon.
The Knights won two of the three doubles matches, but the Ravens were able to escape with an 8-4 win at #2 doubles thanks to sophomoreMaciej Szpakowski (Cieszyn, Poland/Mattituck (N.Y.)) and senior Art Shannon (Danvers, Mass./Danvers).
Shannon also came through for the Ravens in the singles portion of the match, recording a 6-4, 6-4 at the #5 seed. Classmate Ricky Sanford (Stratford, Conn./Bunnell) posted a 6-2, 6-2 win at the #3 singles spot, while sophomore Ryan Jones (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) registered a three-set win at the #6 seed to help the cause, but it wasn't enough as the Knights posted wins at #1, #2 and #4 singles to seal the win.
Franklin Pierce battled back in the second match of the afternoon, however, as they recorded a 5-3 win over Concordia College, ranked No. 4 in the Northeast region, to wrap up play at the Bloomsburg Duels.
The Ravens got off to an excellent start, sweeping the doubles portion of the match. Senior Michael Hoffner (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) and Jones pulled off a tight 9 8 win at #3 doubles, winning the tie-breaking set 7-5.
Junior Darko Minic (Belgrade, Yugoslavia) and Sanford recorded a 9-7 win at #1 doubles, while Shannon and Szpakowski registered an 8-4 win at the #2 spot.
Shannon was outstanding for the Ravens once again, as he posted his third straight win at #5 singles against ranked opponents. Shannon defeated Ton Pham 6-3, 6-4 in the final match of the afternoon to help lift the Ravens past the Clippers. Szpakowski also scored a clutch victory, defeating Isaac Montes 6-2, 6-4 at the #4 singles seed.
Franklin Pierce (9-9, 4-1 NE-10) returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to American International College for a Conference match at 3:30 p.m.
Queens College 5, Franklin Pierce 4
| Singles | Winner | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 |
| Darko Minic (FP) vs. Chris Mullins (QC) | QC | 7-5 | 6-2 | -- |
| Michael Hoffner (FP) vs. Daniel McCauley (QC) | QC | 6-2 | 6-3 | -- |
| Ricky Sanford (FP) vs. Reggie Breland (QC) | FP | 6-2 | 6-2 | -- |
| Maciej Szpakowski (FP) vs. Jerod Tucker (QC) | QC | 6-2 | 6-1 | -- |
| Art Shannon (FP) vs. Alfredo Perez (QC) | FP | 6-4 | 6-4 | -- |
| Ryan Jones (FP) vs. Peter Kedrovic (QC) | FP | 2-6 | 6-3 | 7-5 |
| Doubles | Winner | Set |
| Sanford/Minic (FP) vs. Mullins/McCauley (QC) | QC | 8-6 |
| Shannon/Szpakowski (FP) vs. Breland/Tucker (QC) | FP | 8-4 |
| Hoffner/Jones (FP) vs. Kedrovic/Jeff Hooch (QC) | QC | 8-5 |
Franklin Pierce 5, Concordia College 3
| Singles | Winner | Set 1 | Set 2 |
| Darko Minic (FP) vs. Bhaskar Chowdury (CC) | CC | 6-3 | 6-3 |
| Michael Hoffner (FP) vs. Christiano Borrelli (CC) | CC | 6-2 | 6-3 |
| DNP | -- | -- | -- |
| Maciej Szpakowski (FP) vs. Isaac Montes (CC) | FP | 6-2 | 6-4 |
| Art Shannon (FP) vs. Ton Pham (CC) | FP | 6-3 | 6-4 |
| Ryan Jones (FP) vs. Colin Manjengwa (CC) | CC | 6-1 | 6-3 |
| Doubles | Winner | Set |
| Sanford/Minic (FP) vs. Chowdury/Borelli (CC) | FP | 9-7 |
| Shannon/Szpakowski (FP) vs. Tiongko/Montes (CC) | FP | 8-4 |
| Hoffner/Jones (FP) vs. Pham/Manjengwa (CC) | FP | 9-8 (7-5) |