WALPOLE, Mass. (February 28, 2020) – The Franklin Pierce University women's tennis team returned to the court for the first time since winter break on Friday afternoon. The Ravens were competitive up and down the scoresheet, but ultimately dropped a 6-3, non-conference decision on the road at Babson.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 9-7, while Babson improves to 1-1.

Babson headed into singles play with a 2-1 lead after a spirited session of doubles play. At first doubles, Franklin Pierce graduate student Himani Mor (Sonipat, India) and freshman Liria Loria (La Paz, Bolivia) combined to roll to an 8-3 victory over sophomore Mary Kille and freshman Zhiheng Yao. Things went the other way at third doubles, where the Babson duo of senior Emily Roeper and freshman Morgan Mann swept away senior Sarah Rich (Windham, Maine) and freshman Ashley Flood (Laredo, Texas), 8-0.

It was second doubles which was the crown jewel of the doubles proceedings though, as freshmen Laura Alvarez Tello (Vigo, Spain) and Jazmin Flood (Laredo, Texas) locked horns with freshman Laura De La Espriella and junior Marissa Madison in a classic. The match went all the way to 7-7 before a tiebreak settled things, and then the tiebreak went long as well, before the Babson duo pulled out an 8-7 (7) victory.

Singles play was also tight, as three of the six matches required a third set. Two of the three went Babson's way, which helped the Beavers to secure the match win. At second singles, Yao battled back to take a 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 win from Loria. At third singles, Alvarez Tello picked up a point for the Ravens by bettering De La Espriella, 6-4, 0-6, 6-4. Meanwhile, at fourth singles, Roeper edged freshman Jillian Pagliuca (Taunton, Mass.), 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.

At the top of the ledger, Mor took care of Madison at first singles, 6-1, 7-6. However, Babson took straight-set wins at fifth and sixth singles to finish off the 6-3 victory.

The Ravens return to the court on Tuesday, March 17, when they travel to College of Staten Island for a 1 p.m. non-conference match in Staten Island, N.Y.

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