RINDGE, N.H. (March 28, 2019) – The Franklin Pierce University men's tennis team continued its hot start to the spring season on Thursday afternoon, as the team posted its third straight win, as well as its fifth victory in seven matches to open the semester. The Ravens took care of business on their home court, to the tune of a 6-1 victory over Division I Holy Cross.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 8-3, while Holy Cross falls to 4-10.

The Ravens claimed all three doubles matches, by identical 6-3 scores, to pick up the doubles point to open play. At first doubles, sophomores Roberto Chong (Puigpunyent, Spain) and Nkrumah Patrick (Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago) took care of sophomore Matthew Slowinski and senior Peter Campito. At second doubles, junior Yuval Barak (Zicron Ya'akov, Israel) and freshman Preston Gordon (Essex Junction, Vt.) doubled up freshmen Will Chen and Alexander Ruenhorst. At third doubles, it was seniors James Bisazza (West Barnstable, Mass.) and Andrew Schadt (Tolland, Conn.) over junior Matthew Murphy and senior Henry Harrs.

Franklin Pierce went on to take five of the six singles matches as well and claim the 6-1 victory. The only point of the day for Holy Cross came at first singles, where Chong took Chen to the limit in the first set, but the latter ultimately came away with the 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory. The most competitive match of the afternoon came at sixth singles, where Schadt and Harrs went shot-for-shot over the first two sets, before Schadt ultimately put away the 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-2 win.

Franklin Pierce was rather dominant at the other four singles matches, taking each in straight sets, and with limited competitive sets along the way. At second singles, Bisazza nearly shutout Murphy, 6-0, 6-1. It was a similar story at third singles, where Gordon routed Slowinski, 6-1, 6-0. At fourth singles, it was a 6-3, 7-5 win for Barak over Ruenhorst. At fifth singles, Barak notched a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Campito.

The Ravens return to the court on Saturday, March 30, when they remain home to host Queens (N.Y.) at 2:30 p.m. in Rindge. 

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuravens.com). 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 (https://www.fpuravens.com/store).