LEXINGTON, Va. – The Franklin & Marshall men's tennis team opened its spring dual season with a challenge right out of the gates against perennial power Washington and Lee. With a young lineup which saw four Diplomat first-years making their collegiate dual debuts, F&M feel in a 9-0 match on the road.

The Diplomats played a pair of tight matches in doubles that were decided during the final points. The all first-year pairing of Zac Ashtiani and Luke Brodsky debuted at No. 2 doubles, falling 8-6 in the middle match. Sophomore Daniel Feigelson and junior Pedro Norte also battled at No. 3 before falling by an 8-6 score.

First-years filled the No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 6 positions in the singles lineup, with senior Isaac Rockower assuming his spot at the top of the order. Franklin & Marshall came closest to winning a set at No. 4 where Brodsky came up just short in a 6-4 second set battle.

Men's tennis faces another stiff challenge when it returns to the courts next Sunday for the Centennial Conference Opener against preseason favorite Johns Hopkins. That doubleheader with the Blue Jays will get started with the men's match at 11 a.m. That will be followed by the women's match at approximately 3 p.m.

Washington and Lee 9, Franklin & Marshall 0

Doubles
1: Evan Brady/Evan Erb (W&L) def. Gonzalo Gentou/Isaac Rockower (F&M); 8-1
2: Eli Hirshberg/Will Kistler (W&L) def. Zac Ashtiani/Luke Brodsky (F&M); 8-6
3: James Kurani/Connor Coleman (W&L) def. Daniel Feigelson/Pedro Norte (F&M); 8-6

Singles
1: Evan Erb (W&L) def. Isaac Rockower (F&M); 6-1, 6-1
2: Evan Brady (W&L) def. Gonzalo Gentou (F&M); 6-1, 6-2
3: Will Kistler (W&L) def. Zac Ashtiani (F&M); 6-2, 6-0
4: Eli Hirshberg (W&L) def. Luke Brodsky (F&M); 6-0, 6-4
5: Connor Coleman (W&L) def. Pedro Norte (F&M); 6-2, 6-1
6: James Kurani (W&L) def. Tommy Hicks (F&M); 6-1, 6-0