COLCHESTER, Vt. - In its first outdoor home match in three years, the Saint Michael's College men's tennis team won its final three singles matches to rally past Franklin Pierce University, 5-4, on Friday at the SMC Tennis Courts. The Purple Knights, who played on the SMC Tennis Courts for the first time since April 12, 2012, improved to 1-5 overall and 1-4 in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Ravens are 0-8 and 0-6.

Saint Michael's trailed 4-2 with three singles matches remaining, needing each to snag the team victory. Junior Charlie Merry (Kennebunkport, Maine/Kennebunk) finished off a three-set triumph at No. 2, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, to draw the Purple Knights within one point, and sophomore Hayden Steward (Hamilton, Mass./Pingree School) earned a 6-2, 6-2 victory in the fifth spot to knot the score. That left it up to first-year Sam Costes (Saint Albans, Vt./BFA-Saint Albans), who was making his college debut, and the rookie clinched a win for the hosts by recording a 6-2, 6-1 triumph at No. 6.

The Purple and Gold lost twice during doubles to face a 2-1 deficit as singles began. The tandem of Merry and junior Sam Laves (Bedford, N.H./Bishop Brady) notched an 8-5 win in the No. 2 position, while Steward and sophomore Tyler Lucey (Longmeadow, Mass./Longmeadow) fell by an 8-5 count at No. 3.

As singles action got underway, Laves nabbed a 6-3, 6-4 triumph in the third spot to account for his team's second point, but two teammates fell in straight sets to give Franklin Pierce a 4-2 edge, including as sophomore Patrick Dietz (Prospect, Conn./Woodland Regional) lost his second set just 6-4.

The Purple Knights head to Bentley University on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. match.