by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – For the first time this year, the Barton College women's tennis team was able to compete this weekend with a full lineup, and the Lady Bulldogs liked the difference it made.
On Friday, the Lady Bulldogs blanked visiting Lees-McRae College, 9-0, and on Saturday they did the same to King University in league play at the Barton Tennis Complex.
The matches were the first of the year in Conference Carolinas for the Lady Bulldogs, now 2-0 in the league and 2-4 overall. Lees-McRae fell to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference, while King slipped to 1-8 overall and 1-4 in the league.
Junior transfer Lorraine Chon-Qui returned from injury to play in her first team competition at Barton, winning a pair of matches at No. 2 doubles with partner Meredith Pruden, and claiming a straight-set singles win on Friday against the Bobcats' Taylor Bost. Chon-Qui won by default on Saturday as King played short-handed.
The Lady Bulldogs also saw freshman Casey Utley earn her first collegiate victories. The Clayton, N.C., resident defeated LMC's Rachel Grether at No. 6 singles in an 8-4 pro-set on Friday and downed King's Pearl Annan 6-2, 6-3 in the No. 5 slot on Saturday. She also teamed with Dana Kelly to earn an 8-5 win at No. 3 doubles versus the Bobcats.
After pausing for spring break, Barton will host William Peace University in its next match on March 19.
BARTON 9, LEES-MCRAE 0
Singles
1. Smiljana Kljajic (BARTON) def. Samantha Wohlers (LMC) 6-3, 6-2
2. Alicia Lasry (BARTON) def. Caroline Green (LMC) 6-3, 6-2
3. Meredith Pruden (BARTON) def. Hillary Lutz (LMC) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
4. Lorraine Chon-Qui (BARTON) def. Taylor Bost (LMC) 6-2, 6-2
5. Dana Kelly (BARTON) def. Amanda Chapman (LMC) 6-2, 7-6 (9-7)
6. Casey Utley (BARTON) def. Rachel Grether (LMC) 8-4
Doubles
1. Smiljana Kljajic/Alicia Lasry (BARTON) def. Samantha Wohlers/Hillary Lutz (LMC) 8-3
2. Meredith Pruden/Lorraine Chon-Qui (BARTON) def. Caroline Green/Amanda Chapman (LMC) 8-3
3. Dana Kelly/Casey Utley (BARTON) def. Taylor Bost/Rachel Grether (LMC) 8-5
Records
Lees-McRae 2-5, 0-1
Barton 1-4, 1-0
BARTON 9, KING 0
Singles
1. Smiljana Kljajic (BARTON) def. Nia Gilliam (KING) 6-2, 6-0
2. Alicia Lasry (BARTON) def. Katya Cerny (KING) 6-3, 6-1
3. Meredith Pruden (BARTON) def. Haley Maloney (KING) 6-3, 6-0
4. Dana Kelly (BARTON) def. Amanda Huffaker (KING) 6-0, 6-1
5. Casey Utley (BARTON) def. Pearl Annan (KING) 6-2, 6-3
6. Lorraine Chon-Qui (BARTON) won by default
Doubles
1. Smiljana Kljajic/Alicia Lasry (BARTON) def. Katya Cerny/Nia Gilliam (KING) 8-2
2. Lorraine Chon-Qui/Meredith Pruden (BARTON) def. Haley Maloney/Amanda Huffaker (KING) 8-0
3. Dana Kelly/Casey Utley (BARTON) won by default
Records
King 1-8, 1-4
Barton 2-4, 2-0
