Indianapolis, Ind. - The Franklin College men's tennis team ended its 2016 season with a 5-2 loss to Hanover College in the first round of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) tournament on Friday from the West Indy Racquet Club.

Hanover, the tournament's No. 4 seed, won all three matches in doubles action to seize early momentum.

Sophomore Alex Hammer (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood) rallied after losing the opening set to win his singles match on the No. 1 court. He forced a deciding third set by winning the second set 6-4. Hammer dropped only two games in the third set.

Junior Ethan Caldwell (Terre Haute, Ind./Terre Haute North) lost only three games after dropping the opening set at No. 2 singles.

Hanover picked up straight-set victories at the No. 3 and 4 singles courts to seal the win.

Franklin posted a 4-4 HCAC record and finished fifth during the regular season.