LAKELAND, Fla. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) women's tennis team was defeated by University of Wisconsin- La Crosse, 6-3, this afternoon at the Beerman Family Tennis Complex in Lakeland, Fla. 

The Lyons slip to 5-3 on the season, while the Eagles improve to 11-3.

Wisconsin-La Crosse took a 2-1 lead after doubles play and won four of six singles to take the dual match.

Wheaton first year Laila Haraj-Sai (Madison, Conn.) won in a three-set thriller at number three singles, taking down UWL first year Hannah Cady (Delafield, Wis.). The pair split the first two sets with Haraj-Sai taking the opening frame, 6-4, before Cady bounced back with a 6-3 second set win. Haraj-Sai dominated the pro-set third frame, 10-2.

First year Taylor Wilson (Dover, N.H.) also registered a victory in singles play for the Lyons, going to three sets with sophomore Kate Townsend (Cottage Grove, Minn.) for the Eagles at fourth singles. Wilson dropped the opening set, 6-2, before roaring back with a 6-3 decision in the middle frame and a 10-7 triumph in the clinching set.

Wheaton's doubles success came at number two with sophomore Alissa Ortiz (El Paso, Texas) combining with first year Asia Hollis (Hamilton, Bermuda) for an 8-6 outcome over the first year UWL pairing of Lauren Lindow (East Troy, Wis.) and Maia Samuelson (New Berlin, Wis.).

The Eagles grabbed wins at number one and three doubles. Junior Tasha Bailey (Wausau, Wis.) and Cady came together at first doubles to score an 8-5 win over Lyon senior Mareike Mueller (Amesbury, Mass.) and sophomore Kara Greenlee (San Antonio, Texas). The first year combo of Emma Kappel (River Hills, Wis.) and Izabelle Brinkman (New Richmond, Wis.) registered an 8-3 win over Wheaton's Haraj-Sai and Wilson.

Wisconsin-La Crosse captured singles wins at the top of the lineup at number one and two and the bottom of the lineup with triumphs at fifth and sixth singles.

Bailey recorded a 6-2, 6-1 win over Mueller at first singles and Lindow defeated Greenlee at number two singles, 6-3, 6-3. Lyon junior Izzy Kruse (Woodstock, Ga.) won the opening set against UWL first year Emma Heinert (Winona, Minn.), 7-5, at number five singles, but Heinert came back to win the final two frames, 6-0, 10-6. Samuelson won in straight sets at sixth singles for the Eagles, 6-2, 6-1 over Ortiz.

Wheaton returns to the court 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.