FRANKLIN – Conference play began for the Franklin men's tennis team over the weekend, as the Grizzlies took on Hanover on Saturday before hitting the road to meet Manchester on Sunday.
Day one saw the Grizzlies (3-6, 1-1 HCAC) drop an 8-1 matchup to the Panthers (2-5), but the Griz responded on Sunday to best the Spartans (1-9, 0-2 HCAC) by an 8-1 score.
The Grizzlies' lone winner against Hanover was freshman
Lucas Densford, as he battled for a 7-5, 7-5 win at the No. 5 singles position. Densford secured a second singles win on Sunday afternoon, winning 6-0, 6-0 from the same spot in the lineup.
Also earning singles wins against the Spartans were
Dustin Garrison at the No. 1 spot 6-0, 6-2,
Owen Pickerill winning 6-0, 2-6, 6-1 at No. 2 singles,
Ezra Schwier winning 6-1, 6-0 at No. 4 singles and
Shay Kyser taking a 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles.
Sunday doubles play started with Garrison and
Layton Stieneker earning an 8-3 win as the top doubles team. Both second pair Densford and Schwier and third pair Kyser and
Brian Vennemann were 8-1 winners.
Next up for the Grizzlies is a non-conference matchup with the Adrian Bulldogs on Mar. 18 on the road. Start time is set for 4:00 p.m.
