RINDGE, N.H. - Junior Kenny Vassallo's (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) two-set singles victory snapped a 4-4 tie and vaulted the Saint Michael's College men's tennis team past Franklin Pierce University, 5-4, on Sunday during a Northeast-10 Conference match. In the final match of their fall schedule, the Purple Knights improved to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the league. The Ravens are 1-2 and 0-2.

Vassallo's 7-5, 6-2 triumph at No. 6 singles capped the visitors' comeback, as they trailed 2-1 after doubles play. Senior Brian Healey (Ware, Mass./Belchertown) and junior Eric Parziale (Pinehurst, N.C./Pinecrest/Trinity [Conn.]) teamed for an 8-5 win in the No. 3 doubles slot, while the other two Saint Michael's tandems suffered narrow setbacks.

At No. 1, junior Chris Moskal (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) and sophomore Nick Bosco (Glastonbury, Conn./East Catholic) fell by an 8-6 count, while sophomores Chris Allen (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) and Tom Brahm (Marlborough, Conn./Xavier) pushed their Franklin Pierce counterparts before coming up short, 9-7, in the second position.

Thanks to four singles wins, the Purple Knights were able to complete the comeback. Healey nabbed a 6-3, 6-1 triumph at No. 4, while Moskal captured a 6-4, 6-4 decision at five. Bosco earned a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win in the top slot, and Vassallo rounded out the victors. Parziale was nearly the fifth Saint Michael's player to come out on top but dropped a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 decision at No. 3.

The Purple Knights break until the middle of winter, when they host Merrimack College on Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. in the Tarrant Recreation Center.