Ravens Head Into the Postseason with a Five Match Winning Streak

RINDGE, N.H. (April 20, 2004) - The Franklin Pierce men's tennis team defeated Bryant 5-4 in its final regular season Northeast-10 Conference match this afternoon.

The Ravens win was highlighted by a three-set victory for junior Arun Lazarus (Bradenton, Fla./Bayshore) 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 over Eric Zipp (Darien, Wisc./Delavan-Darien) at #2 singles. Prior to the match, Zipp was undefeated in Conference play. Classmate Ryan Jones (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) also won his #5 singles match against Ben Caisse in three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.            

Franklin Pierce junior captain Maciej Szpakowski (Cieszyn, Poland/Mattituck (N.Y.)) extended his winning streak to five straight matches at #3 singles, defeatingAl Duro 6-3, 6-0.

In doubles action, Jones and Elliot Mcllellan (Jaffrey, N.H./Williston-Northampton) defeated Bryant's Duro and Miguel Duenas (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Lux Mundi) 8-6 in the #2 slot. The Ravens #3 doubles pair of Szpakowski and J.P. Morgan (Hampton Bays, N.Y./Hampton Bays) recorded an 8-6 win over T.J. Euley (Bristol, Conn./Bristol) and C.T. McLean to remain undefeated in Conference play this season at 8-0.

Franklin Pierce finishes the 2004 regular season with an 8-11 overall record, 7-3 in the Northeast-10 and will host Bryant (6-10, 5-5 NE-10) again tomorrow in the first round of the Northeast-10 Tournament at 2:00 p.m.

Franklin Pierce 5, Bryant 4