BOSTON (February 23, 2019) – In a tightly-contested match on Saturday, the Franklin Pierce University women's tennis team suffered a 5-4 loss on the road at Emerson in non-conference play, to open the spring portion of the team's schedule.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 2-13, while Emerson improves to 3-2.

Emerson opened by winning two of the three doubles matches, though Franklin Pierce picked up an 8-6 victory at first doubles, as juniors Alana Wyatt (Worcester, Mass.) and Brigid Washburn (Greentown, Pa.) outlasted juniors Sabrina Jacobs and Rachel Scalera. Emerson responded with identical, 8-4 wins at both second and third doubles. At second doubles, it was a win for freshmen Annie Woodbury and Eliana Flores-Barber over freshman Grayson LaCroix (Cherry Valley, Mass.) and junior Sarah Rich (Windham, Maine). At third doubles, junior Alex Weingarten and freshman Thea Nagle doubled up junior Kelly O'Donnell (Maywood, N.J.) and senior Shelli Safran (Boxborough, Mass.).

The two teams then split the six singles matches, as the Lions held on for the 5-4 victory. Franklin Pierce saw success at the top of the scoresheet, with wins at the top three singles matches, while Emerson won at fourth, fifth and sixth singles to close things out. The most hotly-contested match of the day came at first singles, where Wyatt battled back for a 6-7 (8), 6-1, 7-6 (2) win over Jacobs. LaCroix followed up with a 7-6 (5), 6-0 win over Woodbury at second singles, while Rich took care of Scalera at third singles, 6-2, 7-5.

Emerson picked up straight-set wins in the final three singles matches to pull out the victory. At fourth singles, it was a 6-4, 7-5 win for Flores-Barber over Washburn. At fifth singles, Weingarten went past O'Donnell, 7-5, 6-1. At sixth singles, Nagle picked up a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Safran.

The Ravens return to the court on Sunday, March 10, when they travel to Colby for a non-conference match at noon in Waterville, Maine. 

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).