Ravens looking to continue strong performances this weekend in Worcester

RINDGE, N.H. (April 5, 2012) -- Fresh off a victory against three other teams last weekend, the Franklin Pierce University women's rowing team and its varsity-four boat are being recognized both regionally and nationally by a pair of polls this week. The four boat is ranked third in the latest NCAA East Region Poll, which came out on Tuesday, while it's also receiving honorable-mention votes for the CRCA/US Rowing Division II National Poll, which came out on Wednesday.

In the East region poll, the Ravens are ranked third behind traditional rowing powers Philadelphia University and Mercyhurst. Franklin Pierce is ranked ahead of rival UMass-Lowell, as the River Hawks are in fourth place in the four-team regional listings. 

In the national coaches poll, Franklin Pierce is receiving eight honorable-mention votes, which places it 10th nationally. Only the top-eight teams are ranked in the national poll with Western Washington heading up the top spot in the country.

The Franklin Pierce varsity-four boat raced to a first-place finish in a time of 7:38 this past Saturday, finishing ahead Amherst's "A" and "B" boats and Mass Maritime Academy. The Ravens finished a full seven seconds ahead of Amherst's "A" boat, which placed second in a mark of 7:45.

The members of the Ravens' varsity-four boat include senior Samantha Bizon (South Windsor, Conn.) at the stroke, junior Jessica Whittemore (Auburn, N.H.) at the three, sophomore Natasha Pastor (Fitzwilliam, N.H.) at the two, junior Morgan Miller (Kingston, N.Y.) at the bow and sophomore Shannon Dacey (Barrington, N.H.) at the cox'n.

Franklin Pierce returns to action on Saturday when the Ravens travel to Worcester, Mass. to race against Clark, Connecticut College and Amherst. The event will begin at 8 a.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce women's rowing, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens).