LAKELAND, Fla. – Despite five singles matches going to three sets or a tie-breaker, the Wheaton College (Mass.) men's tennis team suffered a 9-0 defeat to University of Wisconsin-La Crosse this afternoon at the Beerman Family Tennis Complex in Lakeland, Fla.

The Lyons fall to 3-3, while the Eagles improve to 7-5.

Wheaton first year Jaime Galligo (Madrid, Spain) fought to a 7-6 (4) first set win, before UWL senior Cole Contardi (Oconomowac, Wis.) rebounded to take the second frame, 6-2. Contardi hung in there for a third set win at 10-5 in a pro-set tie-breaker to take the match.

First year Lyon Jake Murray (San Diego, Calif.) won the first set, 6-4, at third singles against Eagle sophomore Jack Hehli (West Salem, Wis.), but Hehli came back to win the final two frames, 6-4 and 10-7. Junior Daniel Bor (Seattle, Wash.) also scored a first set win for Wheaton at number four singles with a convincing 6-1 outcome. Wisconsin-La Crosse first year Alex Aranda (Fox Point, Wis.) regrouped to take the final two sets, 6-1, 10-6.

First year Paul Berteaux (Courbevoie, France) joined his teammates' three-set theme, battling to the wire at second singles for the Lyons. UWL sophomore Brady Horstmann (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) won the opening set, 6-1, before Berteaux fought back to tie the match at 1-1 following a 6-4 middle set victory. Horstmann bounced back to win the deciding frame, 10-6.

Wheaton first year Jack Thain (The Woodlands, Texas) gave Wisconsin-La Crosse first year Nathan Ross (Pewakee, Wis.) all he could handle in the opening set, but succumbed, 7-6 (6), before Ross claimed the second frame, 6-2.

UWL sophomore Luke Hinchcliffe (Stevens Point, Wis.) registered a victory at number five singles, 6-4, 6-0, over Lyon senior Eli Hanlon (North Branford, Conn.).

Contardi and Hehli combined for an 8-3 win over Wheaton's Galligo and Murray at number one doubles, while Horstmann paired with Hinchcliffe to earn an 8-6 victory at second doubles over Berteaux and Bor. The Eagles gained a win at number three doubles behind Aranda and Ross over the Lyon duo of Hanlon and Thain by a count of 8-3..

Wheaton returns to action on Tuesday, March 12 when it meets Loras College for a noon match in Sanford, Fla. at Sylvan Lake Park, while UWL takes on Franciscan University of Steubenville later today in Lakeland.