Ravens host Saint Michael's on Sunday

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (September 27, 2013) – The Franklin Pierce University women's tennis team was defeated, 9-0, by Merrimack in Northeast-10 Conference play at Merrimack on Friday afternoon.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 0-4 (0-4 Northeast-10), while Merrimack improves to 2-1 (1-0 Northeast-10).

The Ravens managed to take only four games across nine matches on the afternoon, as Merrimack was dominant from start to finish. Leading the way for Franklin Pierce were freshman Lyla Austin (Rindge, N.H.) and junior Christine Boulanger (East Hampton, Conn.), who claimed two of those games in their match at third doubles, before ultimately falling to Merrimack senior Alyx Barnes and junior Rachel Muller, 8-2.

When all was said and done, all six Merrimack players won in both singles and doubles play on Friday. The Warriors featured a sister duo of freshman Grace Messina and junior Shakee Messina, who teamed at first doubles before playing at first and second singles, respectively. Neither lost a game all afternoon, as they put together an 8-0 win in doubles play before each posted a 6-0, 6-0 victory in singles play.

The Ravens return to the court on Sunday, Sept. 29, when they return home to take on Saint Michael's in a Northeast-10 Conference match at 11 a.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).