by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Junior Lindsey Frederick and sophomore Mika Deane combined for all three Lady Bulldog points in a 6-3 Barton College women's tennis loss to visiting Meredith College on Thursday afternoon.
The Lady Bulldogs slipped to 1-2 on the season while the Avenging Angels begin the season 1-0.
Meredith – winners of 10 of its last 12 matches last season en route to a USA South conference title game appearance in 2011 – returned four All-Conference honorees from last season.
Frederick and Deane improved to 3-0 in the top doubles position for BC with an 8-3 win. The Avenging Angels held on for 8-4 and 8-6 wins in the other two pairs showdowns to take a 2-1 advantage into singles competition.
Deane highlighted the Lady Bulldogs in singles play by defeating reigning USA South Player of the Year Puja Patel in straight sets of 7-5 and 6-3. Frederick won her second straight singles match in the No. 2 hole by a margin of 6-4, 6-1 over a USA South All-Conference performer in Mary Lawrence Newton.
Frederick is 2-0 on the year and Deane is 2-1.
Meredith won the bottom four singles slots in two sets to clinch the victory. Barton sophomore Caroline Fischer force a tiebreaker in the first set of the No. 5 singles match but Mollie Musgrave escaped with a 7-6 (6), 6-3 win. Freshman Caroline Hunt clinched her first collegiate singles win in a dual match at No. 3 singles for the Avenging Angels while All-Conference award winners Betty Edwards and Ashley Pearsall won at No. 4 and No. 6, respectively, for the visitors.
Barton will next host No. 8 Southeast Region ranked Francis Marion University on Saturday at Noon.
