KOHLER, Wis. – Baylee Babcock (Sr.-Mauston, Wis.) and Sydnee Conway (Fr.-Monroe, Wis.) both were part of tow wins each but Wisconsin Lutheran College pulled out several close matches to edge Lakeland University 6-3 in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference dual held at Sports Core Sunday afternoon.

The Muskies came up just short in a hotly contested dual for position in the conference standings and fell to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the NACC. Wisconsin Lutheran improved to 5-4 overall and 5-2 in the conference.

Babcock pulled out an extra-long first set of her No. 4 singles match against WLC's Sky Pope, winning the tiebreaker 11-9. She then cruised through the second set to finish the 7-6 (11-9), 6-0 victory.

Conway earned a win at No. 6 singles, defeating Mary Meghrian 6-3, 7-5, and she and Babcock also teamed up at No. 3 doubles, where the duo prevailed 8-5 over Meghrian and Pope.

A close dual swung on one doubles match and two singles matches that went the Warriors' way. That included doubles play where Mary Blossom (So.-Farmington Hills, Mich.) and Sadie Conway (Sr.-Monroe, Wis.) fell by an 8-5 score to WLC's Haley Olson and Ali Schmidt.

Sadie Conway also lost a tough three-set match at No. 5 singles, where she won the first set by Olson rallied for a 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 win. Blossom also lost in two tough sets to Jena Smith at No.2  singles, falling 6-4, 7-5.

"Moral victories are hard to swallow," said Lakeland head coach Pete Barth, "but all things considered-especially the quality of the opponent-this was arguably our best overall team showing in the past several years. We were right there.

"I'm particularly proud of Baylee Babcock, who's been with the program for four years and played her best tennis all week in practice and again today. She was fantastic in both doubles and singles."

Lakeland is on the road for its next match Wednesday when it faces St. Norbert College at 11 a.m. in De Pere at the Green Bay Tennis Center.