Ravens take two of three in doubles play

COLCHESTER, Vt. (April 3, 2015) – Senior Christopher Brewer (Brattleboro, Vt.) was a winner at both first singles and first doubles on Friday afternoon, but the Franklin Pierce University men's tennis team was edged at Saint Michael's, 5-4, in Northeast-10 Conference play.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 0-8 (0-6 Northeast-10), while Saint Michael's improves to 1-5 (1-4 Northeast-10).

Franklin Pierce opened the day with wins in two of the three doubles matches to jump to a 2-1 lead. At first doubles, Brewer teamed with junior Jared Taylor (Pelham, N.H.) to roll to an 8-2 win over Saint Michael's senior Billy Wood and sophomore Ben Lambert. Meanwhile, at third doubles, seniors Mark Petrie (Pembroke, Mass.) and Aras Banevicius (Canton, Conn.) put together an 8-5 win over sophomores Hayden Steward and Tyler Lucey.

However, Saint Michael's was able to rally with four wins in six singles matches to pull out the 5-4 victory. The pivotal match of the day came at second singles, which was the only one of the six singles contests which required three sets. Saint Michael's junior Charlie Merry picked up a 6-1 win in the first set, before Taylor notched a 6-2 win in the second set. In the pivotal third set, Merry triumphed, 6-3, to pull out the 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 win.

Brewer and junior Drew Bennett (Rindge, N.H.) were able to pick up the two singles wins for Franklin Pierce. At first singles, Brewer was victorious over Wood, 6-3, 6-2. At fourth singles, Bennett notched the win over sophomore Patrick Dietz, 6-0, 6-4.

The Ravens return to the court on Thursday, April 9, when they return home to host American International in a Northeast-10 Conference contest at 2 p.m. in Rindge.

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). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce tennis apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).