INDIANA, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University women's tennis team suffered a 5-1 loss at IUP on Monday afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament. The Lakers fell to 12-5 overall while the Crimson Hawks improved to 15-8 on the season and advances to play the East's top-seed Bloomsburg in the semifinals.

Mercyhurst, fifth in the latest ITA Atlantic Regional rankings, will have to wait now to see if it will be a part of the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championships for a second consecutive season.

IUP swept the doubles portion of the match on Monday to take a 3-0 advantage. Freshman Annie Baich picked up the only victory of the day, earning a win at #4 singles over the Crimson Hawks' Ranvita Mahto. However, senior Courtney Thompson and junior Taylor Wedlake suffered straight-set losses in the next two matches to end the competition.

Wedlake battled IUP's Rachel Wood in a lengthy first set, but fell 12-10 in the tiebreaker. The junior lost the second set, 6-3.

Senior Caroline Bristol and junior Sarah Baich were tied at one set apiece in their matches and junior Katelyn Caniford was down a set, but tied in the second, as play was halted with the clinching victory by the Crimson Hawks.

The Division II women's tennis selection show is scheduled for April 29 at 8:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.

#44 Indiana (PA) 5, Mercyhurst 1
Apr 14, 2014 at Indiana, PA (Maple Street Courts)
Doubles
1. Tanya Timko / Erika Schnaas (IUP) def. Caroline Bristol / Sarah Baich (MER) 8-1
2. Sophie Butland / Alanna McFail (IUP) def. Courtney Thompson / Annie Baich (MER) 8-4
3. Ranvita Mahto / Rachel Wood (IUP) def. Katelyn Caniford / Taylor Wedlake (MER) 8-4
Singles
1. Tanya Timko (IUP) vs. Caroline Bristol (MER) 6-4, 3-6, 1-1, unfinished
2. Sophie Butland (IUP) def. Courtney Thompson (MER) 6-3, 6-4
3. Erika Schnaas (IUP) vs. Sarah Baich (MER) 4-6, 5-4, unfinished
4. Annie Baich (MER) def. Ranvita Mahto (IUP) 7-6 (7-3), retired
5. Rachel Wood (IUP) def. Taylor Wedlake (MER) 7-6 (12-10), 6-3
6. Alanna McFail (IUP) vs. Katelyn Caniford (MER) 7-6 (7-5), 3-3, unfinished
Match Notes
Mercyhurst 12-5; Regional ranking #5
Indiana (PA) 15-8; National ranking #44; Regional ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,2)
2014 PSAC Women's Tennis Quarterfinals
West No. 2 IUP vs. West No. 3 Mercyhurst
IUP advances to PSAC semifinals to face East No. 1 Bloomsburg
T-1:58 A-31