RINDGE, N.H. (September 7, 2016) – The Franklin Pierce University women's tennis team was defeated in its Northeast-10 Conference opener, 9-0, by Merrimack, at Franklin Pierce.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 0-2 (0-1 Northeast-10), while Merrimack opens its season at 1-0 (1-0 Northeast-10).

Merrimack did not drop a set on the afternoon, as the Warriors swept three doubles matches by a combined 24-7 score, and then dropped just 11 games across three singles matches. The biggest fight of the day for the Ravens came courtesy of newcomer and freshman Sarah Rich (Windham, Maine), who made her collegiate debut at fourth singles. Rich hung tight with Merrimack junior Mackenzie Blair in the first set, before the latter put together a 6-4, 6-2 victory.

In all, Merrimack had five players who were victorious in both singles and doubles play, led by senior Grace Messina, who took home wins in the top matches of each. At first singles, she rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 win, after teaming with sophomore Mana Seifaei to put together an 8-2 win at first singles.

The Ravens return to the court on Saturday, Sept. 10, when they travel to Saint Anselm for a Northeast-10 Conference match at 11 a.m. in Manchester, N.H.

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).