BALTIMORE, Md. – Zac Ashtiani's win at No. 2 singles against a nationally-ranked player highlighted the Franklin & Marshall men's tennis performance at sixth-ranked Johns Hopkins on Saturday. The Diplomats entered the national showdown ranked 42nd in the latest ITA computer poll, eventually falling 6-1 to the No. 6 Blue Jays in non-conference action.

Taking on No. 48 Dylan Blenkiron in singles, Ashtiani got out to an early lead with a 6-4 win during the first set. Hist opponent evened the score with a 6-2 second set, but the Diplomats' senior secured F&M's team point with a win during the 10-point tiebreak against his opponent who is currently ranked ninth in the Atlantic South Region. Ashtiani's win was his eighth victory of his senior campaign.

The Diplomats secured an additional victory at No. 2 doubles as the pairing of Gonzalo Gentou and Soren Rudin-Aulenbach were 6-4 winners. F&M was in a battle for the doubles point throughout the matches before the Blue Jays came away with respective 6-4 and 6-3 wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions.

On top of Ashtiani's victory in singles, Nate Arnold won has second set at No. 6 singles before falling in the third. Samuel Donnelly and Rudin-Aulenbach both won multiple games during their matches in the middle of the lineup to provide competitive matches against the nationally-ranked Blue Jays.

Men's tennis will return to action with a home match this Wednesday, April 8 versus Washington College. First serves are scheduled for 4 p.m. That match will also be the team's Pack the Dip Zone event as the team has targeted this date for students on campus to support them in a crucial Centennial Conference match.

#6 Johns Hopkins 6, #42 Franklin & Marshall 1

Doubles
1. Allen Gong/Chakor Rajendra (JHU) def. Zac Ashtiani/Luke Brodsky (F&M); 6-4
2. Gonzalo Gentou/Soren Rudin-Aulenbach (F&M) def. Pranav Gadiraju/Joshua Kim (JHU); 6-4
3. Dylan Blenkiron/Jason Li (JHU) def. Campbell Gervais/Samuel Donnelly (F&M); 6-3

Singles
1. Chakor Blenkiron (JHU) def. Luke Brodsky (F&M); 6-2, 6-0
2. Zac Ashtiani (F&M) def. #48 Dylan Blenkiron (JHU); 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 ()
3. Jason Li (JHU) def. Samuel Donnelly (F&M); 6-2, 7-5
4. Mukundh Boopathi (JHU) def. Soren Rudin-Aulenbach (F&M); 6-4, 6-4
5. Joshua Kim (JHU) def. Jack Gelman (F&M); 6-2, 6-2
6. Pranav Gadiraju (JHU) def. Nate Arnold (F&M); 6-2, 4-6, 6-0