ORLANDO, Fla. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) men's tennis team fell to NCAA Division II Emporia State University, 6-1, this afternoon in dual match play at the Cane Lake Tennis Center in Orlando, Fla. 

The Lyons dip to 5-4 on the season, while the Hornets improve to 7-4.

Emporia State swept doubles play to capture the point for best two out of three doubles matches and won five of six in singles play.

First year Calvin Van Dyke (Alburquerque, N.M.) earned Wheaton's lone point with a win at number six singles. The rookie dropped the first set to Hornet junior Hachem Fahem (Megrine, Tunisia), before coming back to win the next two frames, 6-3 and 10-7 to gain the win.

Emporia State first year Mostafa Elbasnaly (Agouza Giza, Egypt) and junior Anton Sarunic (Opatija, Croatia) teamed to earn a 6-1 win at number one doubles over Lyon first year Jaime Galligo (Madrid, Spain) and senior Eli Hanlon (Branford, Conn.). First year Diego Calvo (Maslianco, Italy) and senior Lleyton Fosha (Olathe, Kansas) combined on a 6-4 win for the Hornets at second doubles over Wheaton's first year pairing of Paul Berteaux (Courbevoie, France) and Jake Murray (San Diego, Calif.). Emporia State gained a win at number three doubles as well behind sophomore Harris Kossover (Wichita, Kansas) and senior Sergio Vera (Zopapan, Mexico) with a 6-2 decision over Lyon junior Daniel Bor (Seattle, Wash.) and Van Dyke.

The Hornets won matches from one through five in singles play – all in straight sets. Sarunic downed Galligo at first singles, 6-3, 6-1, while Elbasnaly defeated Berteaux at second singles, 6-4, 6-0. 

Vera came out on top at number three singles with a 6-1, 6-0 showing over Murray. Calvo dropped a game in each of his sets to gain the victory over Wheaton's Hanlon, 6-1, 6-1 at number four singles. Senior Harrison Brown (Woking, England) earned a 6-1, 6-2 decision at fifth singles over Lyon first year Jack Thain (The Woodlands, Texas).

Wheaton returns to the court on Thursday, March 21 when it hosts Connecticut College at 4:00 p.m. on the Clark Tennis Courts, while Emporia State hosts McPherson College on March 22 at 1:00 p.m.