by Kevin Buczek
HICKORY, N.C.-The top four Barton College women's tennis players all won at singles and doubles to defeat Southeast Region foe Lenoir-Rhyne University 6-3 on Wednesday afternoon at Hickory High School.
The Lady Bulldogs ended a three-match losing streak as Barton improved its winning overall record to 8-6. The Lady Bears remained winless on the season at 0-8.
Freshman Smiljana Kljajic, sophomore Alicia Lasry, sophomore Meredith Pruden and senior Lindsey Frederick all earned a pair of wins in the dual match for the visiting Royal Blue and White.
Frederick and Pruden held on for an 8-6 win at the top doubles match and Kljajic and Lasry coasted to an 8-2 win in the middle showdown to give Barton a 2-1 lead heading into singles. The two recently formed Lady Bulldog partnerships each earned their first wins together.
Kljajic (6-2, 6-0), Lasry (6-1, 6-1) and Pruden (6-0, 6-1) all won easily in the upper half of the singles lineup while Frederick picked up her win by default. Kljajic, Lasry and Frederick have all won two straight dual matches. Lasry and Pruden lead the Lady Bulldogs with nine individual dual wins apiece.
Junior Kristy Lievense (7-6, 5-7, 10-8) was close to winning for a ninth time but lost in a super set tiebreaker at No. 6.
Barton returns to Conference Carolinas play on Saturday when the Lady Bulldogs entertain Lees-McRae College at 1 p.m.
