SANLANDO PARK, Fla. – The Hobart College tennis team was edged 5-4 in a non-conference match by Franklin and Marshall in Florida this afternoon. The loss dropped the Statesmen to 2-2 overall.
 
Hobart took an early lead in the contest after capturing two of the three doubles matches from the Diplomats. First-years Jonah Salita and Jonathan Atwater won 8-4 at No. 2. They defeated Franklin & Marshall's Inigo Flores and Vasant Rajamanickam. Junior Harry Nichols and first-year Patrick Gray survived at No. 3, besting Zack Levin and Isaac Salas 9-8 (7-4).
 
The Diplomats rallied to take the overall match, winning four of the six singles competitions. Atwater improved to 4-0 at No. 2 after topping Levin 6-3, 6-1. Junior Michael Rusk tied things at 4-4 with a three set victory at No. 3 singles. He beat Jack Rothman in a super tiebreaker, 5-7, 6-4, 10-8. Flores clinched the match at No. 5 for Franklin and Marshall.
 
The Statesmen will continue their spring break trip on Wednesday, when they travel to St. Petersburg, Fla., to take on Eckerd at 11 a.m.