by Kevin Buczek
GAFFNEY, S.C.-Sophomore Smiljana Kljajic produced Barton College's lone point in an 8-1 Conference Carolinas women's tennis loss at Limestone College on Sunday afternoon at the Emmie Evans Rector Tennis Center.
The Saints, who went 9-2 in league play last season, began league competition at 1-0 while improving to 2-3 overall.
The Lady Bulldogs were unable to win on consecutive days in slipping to 4-2 and 1-1.
Kljajic kept Barton from being swept by winning atop the Lady Bulldogs singles lineup. Kljajic won the bout by a final score of 7-5, 0-6 and 10-5. Kljajic is 3-1 in dual matches and 2-0 against league opposition.
Senior Caroline Fischer (2-1) nearly picked up a second point for BC at No. 6 singles but eventually lost in the longest tilt of the match by close scores of 6-4, 4-6 and 10-8. Junior Meredith Pruden (4-1) took the early lead in her fourth tier singles match but was unable to hang on by losing 1-6, 6-3 and 6-0.
Limestone swept doubles with an 8-2 win at the top flight and 8-5 victories in the other two encounters.
Junior Julia Moreira highlighted play for the Saints winning her No. 3 singles match over BC junior Alicia Lasry. Moreira won the battle between two All-Conference selections by a margin of 6-2, 6-4.
Barton next hosts Meredith College in a rescheduled match on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
