Ravens host Bentley Sept. 30

RINDGE, N.H. (September 24, 2015) – Freshmen James Bisazza (West Barnstable, Mass.) and Marcus Lawrence (Acton, Mass.) picked up wins at first and second singles on Thursday afternoon, but the Franklin Pierce University men's tennis team ultimately dropped a 7-2 decision to Stonehill in Northeast-10 Conference play at Franklin Pierce.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 0-2 (0-1 Northeast-10), while Stonehill improves to 2-0 (1-0 Northeast-10).

Fresh off his quarterfinal appearance at the USTA/ITA East Regional Championship over the weekend, Bisazza matched up with Stonehill sophomore Thomas Bellio -- a Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team pick last year -- once again. The two had met in the third round over the weekend, with Bisazza notching a 7-6, 1-0 (ret.) victory in Philadelphia. Thursday's match between the two would go the distance, with Bisazza coming out on top again, this time in a tiebreaker set, 4-6, 6-3, 10-5.

Meanwhile, at second singles, Lawrence locked horns with senior Philip Klados, an All-Northeast-10 Second Team selection a year ago. The match was competitive throughout, with Lawrence ultimately taking the victory in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.

Earlier in the day, Stonehill had staked itself to a 3-0 lead with a sweep of the day's doubles play. The marquee doubles match came at first doubles, where Lawrence and freshman Andrew Schadt (Tolland, Conn.) teamed up to take on Bellio and sophomore Tom Buckley. The Franklin pierce duo put up a fight, but Bellio and Buckley would ultimately notch an 8-6 victory.

Wins farther down the card in singles play meant Stonehill had four players who won in both singles and doubles play on Thursday, led by Nikolay Lisichenok. The sophomore teamed with junior Joan Castillo for an 8-4 win at second doubles and then picked up a 6-2, 6-4 win at third singles.

The Ravens return to the court on Wednesday, Sept. 30, when they remain home to host Bentley in a Northeast-10 Conference match at 2 p.m.

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' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).