Ravens travel to Stonehill on Friday

RINDGE, N.H. (September 11, 2012) – The Franklin Pierce University men's tennis team was defeated, 9-0, at home by Southern New Hampshire in Northeast-10 Conference play on Tuesday afternoon. The match was the 2012-13 season opener for both teams.

The Ravens proved more formidable against the perennial Northeast-10 power than they have in the past. A year ago, SNHU ceded just nine games in singles play to Franklin Pierce, but this time around, two Ravens were able to win a set each.

The middle two singles flights were the most competitive of the afternoon, as freshman Drew Bennett (Rindge, N.H.) squared off with senior Jared Wright at third singles and sophomore Keith Bujak (Lyndeborough, N.H.) took on sophomore Brad Malenich at fourth singles. Bennett squeaked out the first set in a tiebreak, 7-6, before Wright eked out a second-set win, 6-4. Wright then took the tiebreaker, 10-5. Meanwhile, Bujak stormed to a 6-2 win in the first set before Malenich roared back with a 6-3 win in the second. The duo then slugged it out in the tiebreak, with Malenich emerging with the 10-8 victory.

Earlier in the day, Bennett was also a part of Franklin Pierce's most successful doubles team, as he paired with freshman Jared Taylor (Pelham, N.H.) at second doubles. They matched up with SNHU's Wright and sophomore Evan Eaton, who ultimately picked up the 8-4 win.

The Ravens return to the court on Friday, Sept. 14, when they travel to Stonehill for a Northeast-10 Conference match. First serve is set for 3 p.m. in Easton, Mass.

Results
Doubles
1. Mitch Dobek/Mike Wallace (SNH) def. Christopher Brewer/Keith Bujak (FPU), 8-3
2. Evan Eaton/Jared Wright (SNH) def. Jared Taylor/Drew Bennett (FPU), 8-4
3. Tim Hamilton/Brad Malenich (SNH) def. Mikie Connor/Michael Selling (FPU), 8-1

Singles
1. Mitch Dobek (SNH) def. Jared Taylor (FPU), 6-1, 6-1
2. Mike Wallace (SNH) def. Christopher Brewer (FPU), 6-0, 6-1
3. Jared Wright (SNH) def. Drew Bennett (FPU), 6-7, 6-4, 10-5 (tiebreak)
4. Brad Malenich (SNH) def. Keith Bujak (FPU), 2-6, 6-3, 10-8 (tiebreak)
5. Tim Hamilton (SNH) def. Mikie Connor (FPU), 8-4 (pro set)
6. Evan Eaton (SNH) def. Michael Selling (FPU), 8-0 (pro set)

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).