Yuval Barak
Posted: Mar 30, 2019

Men’s Tennis Holds its Own, but Gets Clipped by Queens (N.Y.), 4-3

Team Stats
Doubles
Roberto Chong / Nkrumah Patrick (FPU)
def. Cosme Jubera / Jose Zurro (QC)
6-3
Yuval Barak / Preston Gordon (FPU)
def. Richard Sec / Lucas Demuth (QC)
6-4
James Bisazza / Andrew Schadt (FPU)
def. Camilo Arias / Stanislas Bedrune (QC)
7-6 (7-4)
Singles
Kareem Rashad (QC)
def. James Bisazza (FPU)
3-6, 6-1, 6-4
Roberto Chong (FPU)
def. Lucas Demuth (QC)
6-1, 6-3
Richard Sec (QC)
def. Preston Gordon (FPU)
6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Mariano Biblioni (QC)
def. Nkrumah Patrick (FPU)
6-1, 6-3
Yuval Barak (FPU)
def. Nicholas Volos (QC)
5-7, 6-3, 6-1
Hugo Evangelista (QC)
def. Andrew Schadt (FPU)
6-3, 6-2

RINDGE, N.H. (March 30, 2019) – The Franklin Pierce University men's tennis team took the second-ranked team in the East Region to the limit in a marathon affair on Saturday afternoon, but Queens (N.Y.) was ultimately able to prevail, 4-3, in the non-conference match at Franklin Pierce.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 8-4, while Queens improves to 7-4.

The match, which featured a trio of three-set singles matches, would ultimately come down to the third set at third singles, where freshman Preston Gordon (Essex Junction, Vt.) locked horns with Queens senior Richard Sec. The two went blow-for-blow over the first two sets, before Sec ultimately pulled out the 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory to close out the team match.

Queens also took a three-set match at first singles, while Franklin Pierce claimed a three-set victory at fifth singles. At first singles, freshman Kareem Rashad rallied past senior James Bisazza (West Barnstable, Mass.), 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. At fifth singles, it was a 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 win for junior Yuval Barak (Zicron Ya'akov, Israel), as he surged past junior Nicholas Volos.

Elsewhere, Franklin Pierce notched a straight-set win at second singles, while Queens claimed straight-set victories at fourth and sixth singles. At second singles, sophomore Roberto Chong (Puigpunyent, Spain) took care of freshman Lucas Demuth, 6-1, 6-3. At fourth singles, it was a 6-1, 6-3 win for freshman Mariano Biblioni over sophomore Nkrumah Patrick (Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago). At sixth singles, sophomore Hugo Evangelista de Andrade posted a 6-3, 6-2 win over senior Andrew Schadt (Tolland, Conn.).

Earlier in the day, Franklin Pierce had collected the doubles point by claiming victories in all three doubles contests. At first doubles, Chong and Patrick doubled up seniors Cosme Jubera and Jose Zurro. At second doubles, Barak and Gordon went past Sec and Demuth, 6-4. The tightest of the three came at third doubles, where Bisazza and Schadt pulled out a 7-6 (4) win over seniors Camilo Arias and Stanislas Bedrune.

The Ravens return to the court on Wednesday, April 3, when they resume Northeast-10 Conference play with a trip to Le Moyne for a noon match in Syracuse, 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.fpuravens.com/store).