FRANKLIN, Ind. – With a spot in the 2018 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament already locked up, the Franklin College men's tennis team closed out their regular season with battle for opening round positioning against Transylvania University.
The Grizzlies (6-11, 3-4 HCAC) rolled past the Pioneers (3-10, 2-5 HCAC), taking the match 9-0 and locking down the fifth-seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
Franklin's top doubles tandem of senior Alex Hammer and sophomore Blake Amonett got the party started with an 8-3 win over Luke Groene and Eric Sandknop. Franklin completed the sweep of doubles as the No. 2 team of Zach Lester and Jacob Zachary notched an 8-4 win, a score matched by the third pair of Sam Godby and Dean Elrod.
In his final career singles home match, Hammer put the Grizzlies within a point of victory with a 6-0, 6-4 win at the No. 1 singles position. Amonett secured the victory with a 6-1, 6-1 win at the No. 2 singles spot.
Zachary was a 6-2, 6-1 win in the No. 3 spot while Kyle Sauley claimed a 6-2, 6-0 win at the four position. Godby also ended his final home match in style, taking a 6-0, 6-1 win at the five spot. Elrod closed out the day with a 6-4, 6-2 win.
With the win, Franklin moves on to the opening round of the 2018 HCAC Tournament to take on Manchester University on Friday, May 4 at the West Indy Rackey Club in Indianapolis, Ind. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m.
