by Eric Willuweit

Chicago, Ill. – The Illinois Tech women's tennis team battled hard but came up short Thursday afternoon, falling to Lakeland University 5-4 in a close conference matchup. The loss dropped the Scarlet Hawks to 2-3 in NACC play, and 2-5 overall. The Muskies improved to 2-1 in the conference, and 3-2 overall.

In a rebuilding season for the women's team, the Scarlet Hawks lost close matches in the number three, five and six singles matches, as well as a close loss in the number three doubles match.

Singles Play (Illinois Tech 3 – Lakeland 3)

• Natalie Hamill won the number one singles match 6-1, 6-0 over the Muskies Olivia Heling
• Saumya Sukhthankar swept her number two singles match against Lakeland's Mary Blossom, 6-0,. 6-0.
• Angelica Conwell won her first Scarlet Hawks match, defeating Baylee Babcock 7-6, 6-4 in the number four singles match.
• Lakeland won the number three, five and six singles matches.

Doubles Play (Lakeland 2 – Illinois Tech 1)

• The number one doubles tandem of Hamill and Sukhthankar defeated Lakeland's pairing of Blossom and Sadie Conway 8-1.
• Lakeland won the number two and three doubles matches 8-0 and 8-5, respectively.

Next Up

The Scarlet Hawks will be on their home courts at the XS Tennis Center when they host MSOE at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 1 in a NACC matchup, before traveling to St. Norbert on Sunday, October 2 for another conference matchup at 3:00 p.m.