BEVERLY, Mass. (April 17, 2018) – Returning to the postseason for the first time in over a decade, the Franklin Pierce University men's tennis team came up on the short end of things on Tuesday afternoon, in the first round of the Northeast-10 Conference Championship. Playing at the Bass River Tennis Club, the fourth-seeded Ravens notched a win at third doubles against fifth-seeded Bentley, but the Falcons ultimately came away with the 5-1 victory.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce closes out its season at 10-11, chalking up the most wins for the program since 2005. Bentley improves to 15-9, and advances to take on top-seeded Southern New Hampshire in the semifinal round on Thursday.

The lone point of the afternoon for Franklin Pierce came at third doubles, courtesy of junior James Bisazza (West Barnstable, Mass.) and sophomore Matthew Toombs (Pleasanton, Calif.). The duo scratched out an 8-6 win over Bentley junior Dylan Granat and freshman Connor Aulson.

Bentley took the other two doubles matches to take a 2-1 lead. At first doubles, seniors Brendan McCarthy and George Samander doubled up freshman Roberto Chong (Puigpunyent, Spain) and junior Andrew Schadt (Tolland, Conn.), 8-4. At second doubles, it was an 8-3 victory for juniors Brett Gilman and Michael Fuca over sophomore Yuval Barak (Zicron Ya'akov, Israel) and junior Marcus Lawrence (Acton, Mass.).

Bentley then chalked up wins at fourth, fifth and sixth singles -- all in straight sets -- to clinch the match at 5-1. At fourth singles, freshman Daniel Weitz rolled past Schadt, 6-1, 6-0. At fifth singles, it was a 6-3, 6-1 win for Fuca over Lawrence. At sixth singles, Aulson notched a 6-2, 6-1 win over Toombs.

The matches at first, second and third singles remained unfinished, after the team match was decided.

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).