Lake Forest dropped a 5-0 decision to the University of Chicago, the top-ranked team in the Central Region, in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Saturday.
The Foresters had reached the second round by defeating Luther College 5-1 in Friday's tournament opener. The Maroons, who are also ranked 12th in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, had a first round bye.
Chicago took all three doubles matches to begin the contest. The closest of the three contests was #2, where the margin was just 8-5. It was just the fourth loss in 31 matches this season for senior Allison Watts and sophomore Tyranny Miller, who own the program record for career victories by a doubles team with 48 against just eight losses over the last two years.
The Maroons won the first set at five of the six positions in singles with Forester freshman Tebatso Duba holding a 5-4 lead at #3 when Chicago clinched the match by finishing off victories at the top and bottom of the lineup.
The trip to the NCAA Tournament was the first in program history for Lake Forest, the 13th-ranked team in the region. The Foresters finished the season 22-4. Chicago moves on to Sunday's third round at 15-5.
Lake Forest's only senior is Watts, the program's career leader in singles and doubles victories.