by Kevin Buczek
PEMBROKE, N.C.-Juniors Alicia Lasry and Meredith Pruden won their singles matches for visiting Barton College in a 6-3 Southeast Region women's tennis loss to UNC Pembroke at the Varsity Tennis Courts on Thursday.
Sophomore Smiljana Kljajic and freshman Ananya Sarkar produced the Lady Bulldogs first point with a win in the top doubles match.
UNCP improved to 7-3 overall with its 19th consecutive non-conference win. Barton slipped to 7-4 on the season with its first loss in March (2-1).
Lasry (7-5, 6-3) and Pruden (6-4, 6-4) both won in straight sets at third and fourth singles. Pruden (7-3 in dual single matches) has a team-high seven wins while Lasry (4-4) leveled her season ledger.
The Braves won the second and third doubles matches, 8-4 and 8-2, to take the early lead before Kljajic and Sarkar put Barton on the board with a hard-fought 9-7 win. Kljajic and Sarkar, who are 5-2 paired together, have won three consecutive doubles matches.
UNC Pembroke won the other four singles matches in two sets to seal the team victory.
Barton returns home to host another non-conference match against a Southeast Region foe in Lenoir-Rhyne University on Saturday at 3 p.m.
