SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Despite first year Asia Hollis (Hamilton, Bermuda) winning in both singles and doubles play, the Wheaton College (Mass.) women's tennis team was defeated by host Mount Holyoke College, 6-3, this evening in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference play at the Mount Holyoke College Tennis Courts in South Hadley, Mass.

The Lyons drop to 9-5 overall and 3-2 in conference play, while the MHC Lyons improve to 9-5 and 3-2.

Wheaton won two of three doubles matches to take a 2-1 dual match lead, heading into singles play, but Mount Holyoke took five of six singles to earn the match victory.

Hollis combined with classmate Taylor Wilson (Dover, N.H.) to earn an 8-3 triumph at number three doubles over the MHC sophomore tandem of Kate Vavra (Weston, Mass.) and Kennedy Bagley-Fortner (Montclair, N.J.). Hollis continued her winning ways in singles play, defeating Vavra at fifth singles, 6-2, 6-2.

The Wheaton Lyons' other point came at number two doubles from the sophomore duo of Kara Greenlee (San Antonio, Texas) and Alissa Ortiz (El Paso, Texas). They won a grueling 8-7 decision with a 7-2 tie-breaker over MHC's sophomore Cal Smith (Bridgewater, Mass.) and first year Rachel Allen (Mary Esther, Fla.). 

Junior Annika Chai (London, England) and sophomore Kirat Kaur (Chandigarh, India) teamed for an 8-1 result at number one doubles for the home team over Wheaton's pairing of senior Mareike Mueller (Amesbury, Mass.) and first year Laila Haraj-Sai (Madison, Conn.).

Following doubles play, Kaur dropped just one game at second singles over Greenlee, 6-1, 6-0, before Chai earned a 6-1, 6-0 win at number one singles over Mueller to give MHC a 3-2 match lead.

Hollis' win tied the match at 3-3, but sophomore Natali Kostadinovic (Pirot, Serbia) reclaimed the lead for Mount Holyoke with a 7-5, 6-4 victory at sixth singles over Wheaton junior Izzy Kruse (Woodstock, Ga.). Smith battled to a three-set victory at  fourth signals to seal the match for MHC. Smith won the opening set, 7-6 (1), before Haraj-Sai bounced back for a 7-5 win. Haraj-Sai sat on match point, but Smith came all the way back to finish the set at 7-5 to take the match.

Allen also staved off match point at number three singles to pull out the final match of the day for Mount Holyoke. Wilson won the opening frame for Wheaton, 6-2, and held match point, but Allen came back to take the set, 7-6 (5), before winning the third set, 6-4, for the win.

The Lyons return to the courts on Saturday, April 20 when they travel to Cambridge, Mass. to take on NEWMAC rival Massachusetts Institute of Technology at 12:00 p.m., while MHC hosts Wellesley College on April 19 at 5:00 p.m.