SMITHFIELD, R.I. (April 13, 2003) - The Franklin Pierce men's tennis team had its five game Conference winning streak snapped, as it fell to Bryant College, 5-4, in Northeast-10 Conference men's tennis action this afternoon.

Senior Art Shannon (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) and sophomore Maciej Szpakowski (Cieszyn, Poland/Mattituck (N.Y.)) recorded the Ravens lone win at doubles, as they defeated sophomores Erik Zipp and Chris Dubois, 8-1, at the #2 seed.

Senior Ricky Sanford (Stratford, Conn./Bunnell) and junior Darko Minic (Belgrade, Yugoslavia) battled with senior Antonio Valero and Jonathan Peiliker at the #1 seed, but couldn't hold on as the Bulldogs clinched an 9-7 win to take the 2-1 lead heading into the singles matches.

The Ravens dropped the first three singles matches, but not without a fight. Peiliker got by Minic at the #1 singles spot after clinching the tie-breaker, 7-5, in the first set and registering a 6-2 win in the second set. Senior Michael Hoffner (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) and Valero fought through three sets, with Valero coming out on top, 6-3 in the third set to seal the win. Sanford also went to three sets with Zipp, but fell in the third set, 7-5.

Szpakowski went to three sets with Dubois, but came out on top, clinching a 6-2 win in the third set after falling in the tie-breaking second set 7-6 (7-5).

Shannon improved to an outstanding 17-2 combined record in his singles matches, as he defeated Bryant sophomore Jesse Thompson, 6-0, 6-1, at the #5 singles spot. Sophomore Ryan Jones (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) also recorded at two-set win, posting a 6-4, 6-0 victory over sophomore T.J. Euley at the #6 seed.

Franklin Pierce (11-10, 6-2 NE-10) returns to action tomorrow when it travels to Merrimack College for a Northeast-10 Conference match at 3:30 p.m.

Bryant 5, Franklin Pierce 4