RINDGE, N.H. (September 20, 2018) – The Franklin Pierce University men's tennis team opened the season with a bang in its first team match of the 2018-19 season on Thursday afternoon. The Ravens dropped only one doubles match on the day, on the way to a 7-0 win at home over visiting Post in non-conference play.

With the win, Franklin Pierce opens the season at 1-0, while Post falls to 0-1.

Franklin Pierce picked up wins in two of the three doubles matches to take home the match's doubles point. At first doubles, sophomores Roberto Chong (Puigpunyent, Spain) and Nkrumah Patrick (Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago) doubled up Post senior Ivan Rajevac and junior Joe Alvord, 6-3. Meanwhile, at third doubles, freshman Preston Gordon (Essex Junction, Vt.) and junior Yuval Barak (Zicron Ya'akov, Israel) rolled to a 6-0 victory over senior Steven Woodfield and sophomore Matthew Spina.

Post picked up its only match win of the day at second doubles. Senior Jonathan Compres and junior Samuel Urban tallied a 6-1 win over Franklin Pierce seniors James Bisazza (West Barnstable, Mass.) and Andrew Schadt (Tolland, Conn.).

Franklin Pierce proceeded to win all six of the afternoon's singles matches to roll to the 7-0 win in the team match. Each of the singles contests went in straight sets, beginning with a 6-3, 6-2 win at first singles for Chong over Compres. The tightest of the singles matches was at second singles, where Bisazza eventually finished off Rajevac, 6-4, 6-3.

The Ravens would roll farther down the lineup sheet. At third singles, Gordon thumped Urban, 6-1, 6-0. At fourth singles, Patrick took care of Alvord, 6-1, 6-2. At fifth singles, Barak swept away Woodfield, 6-0, 6-0. Finally, at sixth singles, Schadt rolled through Spina, 6-1, 6-1.

The Ravens return to the court on Monday, Oct. 1, when they remain home to host Eastern Nazarene in a non-conference match at 3:30 p.m.

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