HANOVER, Ind. – For the first time since 2018, the Franklin men's tennis team is headed to the semifinals of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament.
Franklin snapped an even longer streak on Wednesday (May 1) afternoon, collecting their first win over the Hanover Panthers since 2015 with a 5-1 victory in the opening round of the conference championship.
Franklin wasted no time getting control of the match, sweeping all three doubles contests. Franklin's No. 1 team of
Dustin Garrison and
Ezra Schwier were 8-3 winners, a score matchup by the No. 2 team of
Nathan Jarboe and
Shay Kyser.
Marcus Cox and
Lucas Densford gave the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead by winning 8-4 in the #3 doubles matchup.
Jarboe moved the Grizzlies a step closer to victory with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 triumph at No. 1 singles.
Jaden Wells secured the victory at No. 5 singles with a 7-6 (1-0), 6-1 win to break the nine-year winless drought against their long-time rival. The remainder of the singles results went unfinished.
Franklin moves on to the semifinals of the HCAC Tournament at Top Seeded Tennis Club in Nicholasville, Ky. The Grizzlies will meet top-seeded Rose-Hulman on Saturday (May 4) afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
