NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College women's tennis team moved into a tie for first place in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) on Tuesday afternoon thanks to its 6-3 victory over previous league unbeaten Babson College in a battle between regionally-ranked squads on the Clark Tennis Courts.

Improving to 8-2 overall and 4-1 in league play, the Lyons entered today's match ranked 12th in the Northeast by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), while the 15th-ranked Beavers suffered their second straight loss in falling to 5-2 and 3-1.

Regionally-ranked juniors Sarah Geocaris (Newport Beach, CA/Sage Hill School) and Catherine Teague (Manchester, NH/Central) and classmate Ellen Van Faasen (Manchester, MA/Manchester Essex Regional) and sophomore Rosalyn Chesky (South Hadley, MA/Wilbraham & Monson Academy) provided the hosts with easy wins at first and third doubles, respectively. Geocaris and Teague posted an 8-1 result in the top spot, and Chesky and Van Faasen won 8-2 at three.

Senior Katherine Knies (Purdys, NY/North Salem) and sophomore Allesandra DiOrio (Cumberland, RI/Lincoln School) dropped a hard-fought 8-6 decision at number two to Babson seniors Lorena Becerra (Key Biscayne, FL/Gulliver Prep) and Liz Sheerin (Melrose, MA/Melrose).

Clinging to a 2-1 edge, the Lyons tripled their advantage with early singles wins in the second and sixth slots, as Teague notched a 6-3, 6-1 win at two and Chesky a 7-5, 6-1 victory at six. The Beavers narrowed their deficit to 4-3 thanks to wins in the first and third positions by senior Jes Huang (Andover, MA/Groton School) and Becerra, respectively.

DiOrio clinched the team victory for the Lyons with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph at number four before Knies provided the hosts with their sixth point following a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 victory over freshman Mikaela Stamas (Northboro, MA/Algonquin Regional) in the fifth position.

Wheaton remains at home on Saturday for its final regular season match in Norton against conference foe Clark University at 1:00 p.m.