Melbourne, Rodgers, Cohen, Boulanger all win twice

MILFORD, N.H. (March 29, 2013) – Freshman Kirby Melbourne (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) and sophomore Leslie Rodgers (Westminster, Md.) teamed for an 8-4 win at second doubles on Friday, before picking up straight-set wins at second and fourth singles, respectively, to lead the Franklin Pierce University women's tennis team to a 7-2 win over Saint Rose in neutral-site, Northeast-10 Conference play at Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness Club. Senior Jen Crego won at first singles and first doubles to factor in on both points for Saint Rose in defeat.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 2-5 (1-5 Northeast-10), while Saint Rose falls to 0-10 (0-10 Northeast-10). The match was originally scheduled as a home contest for Franklin Pierce, but was moved to Milford when the Ravens' facility proved unplayable.

Crego teamed with freshman Paige Southwick to earn an 8-4 win at second doubles against Franklin Pierce junior Natasha McCarthy (Rindge, N.H.) and sophomore Emily Parrett (Amherst, N.H.), but the remaining two doubles points went to the Ravens. Melbourne and Rodgers downed Saint Rose sophomores Maggie Moran and Alyssa Marie Haddad at second doubles, while senior Melissa Cohen (Queens, N.Y.) and sophomore Christine Boulanger (East Hampton, Conn.) picked up an 8-4 win in third doubles against senior Sarah Klein and sophomore Keri Robinson, to send Franklin Pierce into singles play with a 2-1 lead.

McCarthy had likely had her fill of Crego by the end of the day, as the Golden Knight picked up a straight-set win at first singles, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3). That would be the final point of the day for Saint Rose, as it was all Franklin Pierce from there on out. Melbourne led the way with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 triumph over Moran at second singles, while Rodgers swept away Klein, 6-1, 7-5. Between the pair, at third singles, Parrett fought back after losing a first-set tiebreak to post a 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 win over Southwick.

Farther down the ledger, Cohen split the first two sets with Robinson at fifth singles before winning a tiebreaker set -- as the team match had been decided by then -- to pick up a 4-6, 6-0, 10-5 (tiebreak) victory. At sixth singles, Boulanger put away Haddad, 8-3, in the pro set format.

The Ravens return to the court on Thursday, April 4, when they return home to host Assumption in a Northeast-10 Conference match at 3:30 p.m.

Results
Doubles
1. Jen Crego/Paige Southwick (STR) def. Natasha McCarthy/Emily Parrett (FPU), 8-4
2. Kirby Melbourne/Leslie Rodgers (FPU) def. Maggie Moran/Alyssa Marie Haddad (STR), 8-4
3. Melissa Cohen/Christine Boulanger (FPU) def. Sarah Klein/Keri Robinson (STR), 8-4

Singles
1. Crego (STR) def. McCarthy (FPU), 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Melbourne (FPU) def. Moran (STR), 7-6 (7-1), 6-1
3. Parrett (FPU) def. Southwick (STR), 6-7, 6-3, 6-4
4. Rodgers (FPU) def. Klein (STR), 6-1, 7-5
5. Cohen (FPU) def. Robinson (STR), 4-6, 6-0, 10-5 (tiebreak)
6. Boulanger (FPU) def. Haddad (STR), 8-3

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).