RINDGE, N.H. (September 22, 2018) – The Franklin Pierce University women's tennis team got in the win column for the first time in 2018-19 on Saturday afternoon, as the Ravens put together a 6-1 win over American International at home in Northeast-10 Conference play.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 1-4 (1-1 NE10), while AIC falls to 0-4 (0-4 NE10).

Franklin Pierce picked up wins in two of the three doubles matches to claim the doubles point to open play on Saturday. At first doubles, juniors Alana Wyatt (Worcester, Mass.) and Brigid Washburn (Greentown, Pa.) teamed to double up AIC freshmen Taylor Pankewicz and Sophie Roberge. Meanwhile, at third doubles, junior Kelly O'Donnell (Maywood, N.J.) and senior Shelli Safran (Boxborough, Mass.) swept away senior Alice Calabrese and Mireya Ortega, 6-0. AIC returned the 6-0 sweep at second doubles, where sophomore Meritxell Jimeno-Vicente and freshman Sophie Roberge downed freshman Grayson LaCroix (Cherry Valley, Mass.) and junior Sarah Rich (Windham, Maine).

Franklin Pierce followed by claiming five of the six singles matches to create the 6-1 final. The most-competitive singles match came at third singles, where Rich battled to a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 win over Roberge. Fourth singles was also tight early, before Washburn pulled away for a 7-5, 6-2 win over Pankewicz. At second singles, LaCroix doubled up Salazar, 6-3, 6-3.

Franklin Pierce rolled at both fifth and sixth singles. At fifth singles, it was a 6-0, 6-2 win for O'Donnell over Calabrese. Safran did one better at sixth singles, as she dispatched Ortega, 6-0, 6-1.

AIC's lone point of the day came at first singles, where Jimeno-Vicente notched a 6-3, 6-2 win over Wyatt.

The Ravens return to the court on Wednesday, Sept. 26, when they travel to Stonehill for an NE10 match at 3 p.m. in Easton, Mass.

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).