LANCASTER, Pa. – The Salisbury University men's tennis team played its first match of the year ending in a 5-4 score, outlasting Franklin & Marshall College on Friday night.

The match was square at 4-4, coming down to the No. 6 singles contest which pitted sophomore Matthew Ryan against Andrew Pace. Ryan won the opening set in a tie-breaker 7-6 (7-2) and finished off the match with another tie-breaker victory, winning 7-6 (8-6) to give Salisbury (7-1) the team victory.

Ryan's win was one of three in singles play for the Sea Gulls, with sophomore Ian Siew winning 6-1, 6-3 at No. 2 while freshman Stefan Hein won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3.

The three F&M (0-2) singles wins came in three sets with sophomore Colt Williamson falling at No. 1 by a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 score. Classmate Patrick MacLean dropped an 0-6, 6-1, 6-2 decision at No. 4 and senior Kelson Weber lost at No. 5 by a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 score.

Salisbury picked up two points in doubles play. Siew and Ryan won 8-2 at the No. 2 spot while Weber and Hein earned an 8-5 win at No. 3. Williamson and MacLean nearly made it a doubles sweep, but fell in a tie-breaker 9-8 (7-1) at the No. 1 doubles spot.

The Sea Gulls get back in action on Saturday, March 10 at Haverford College. That match will begin at 1 p.m.