by Benny Benton
GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Barton College women's tennis team extended its winning streak to three on Friday with a 6-3 victory over Converse College, but the run ended on Saturday with a 9-0 defeat at the hands of league-leading Limestone College.
The weekend split left the Lady Bulldogs with a record of 3-5 overall and 3-1 in Conference Carolinas play.
Barton trailed Converse by a 3-1 margin after losing two of the three doubles matches and the No. 6 singles contest, but the Lady Bulldogs rallied to win the final five singles matches and down the Valkyries (1-6, 1-2). Barton dropped just 10 total games in those 10 combined singles sets.
Junior Smiljana Kljajic and senior Alicia Lasry combined on an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles, then both easily won their singles matches, Kljajic by a 6-1, 6-0 margin and Lasry by a score of 6-1, 6-2.
The match on Saturday featured the last two unbeaten teams in league play, but the Saints (5-3, 5-0) took the drama out of the contest with three convincing doubles wins. Limestone went on to sweep singles play in straight sets, dropping just 11 total games.
The Saints, picked third in the preseason coaches' poll, has already beaten everyone else in the top five, including preseason favorite Erskine, which has dominated the league in women's tennis for the past decade.
The Lady Bulldogs will host UNC Pembroke in a non-conference match at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
BARTON 6, CONVERSE 3
Singles
1. Smiljana Kljajic (BARTON) def. Alex Schlesener (CONVERSE) 6-1, 6-0
2. Alicia Lasry (BARTON) def. Kaitlin Knight (CONVERSE) 6-1, 6-2
3. Meredith Pruden (BARTON) def. Margaret Pridmore (CONVERSE) 6-2, 6-1
4. Lorraine Chon-Qui (BARTON) def. Taylor L.-Barr (CONVERSE) 6-0, 6-2
5. Dana Kelly (BARTON) def. Samantha Sheffield (CONVERSE) 6-1, 6-0
6. Klaire Rouse (CONVERSE) def. Casey Utley (BARTON) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
1. Smiljana Kljajic/Alicia Lasry (BARTON) def. Margaret Pridmore/Kaitlin Knight (CONVERSE) 8-5
2. Samantha Sheffield/Alex Schlesener (CONVERSE) def. Meredith Pruden/Lorraine Chon-Qui (BARTON) 9-8 (7-4)
3. Taylor L.-Barr/Mary Kaitlyn Flynn (CONVERSE) def. Dana Kelly/Casey Utley (BARTON) 9-8 (7-1)
Records
Barton 3-5, 3-0
Converse 1-6, 1-2
***
LIMESTONE 9, BARTON 0
Singles
1. Manon Janin (LC) def. Smiljana Kljajic (BARTON) 7-5, 6-3
2. Alexandra Boulbin (LC) def. Alicia Lasry (BARTON) 6-1, 6-1
3. Marian Pinate (LC) def. Meredith Pruden (BARTON) 6-4, 6-2
4. Hannah Hopkins (LC) def. Lorraine Chon-Qui (BARTON) 6-2, 6-1
5. Jessica Martinez (LC) def. Dana Kelly (BARTON) 6-2, 6-0
6. Julia Moreira (LC) def. Casey Utley (BARTON) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
1. Alexandra Boulbin/Marian Pinate (LC) def. Smiljana Kljajic/Alicia Lasry (BARTON) 8-3
2. Hannah Hopkins/Jessica Martinez (LC) def. Lorraine Chon-Qui/Meredith Pruden (BARTON) 8-0
3. Manon Janin/Julia Moreira (LC) def. Dana Kelly/Casey Utley (BARTON) 8-0
Records
Barton 3-5, 3-1
Limestone 5-3, 5-0
