by Benny Benton
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – Although Smiljana Kljajic and Alicia Lasry both put up strong fights at the top two singles positions, the Barton College women's tennis team suffered a 9-0 setback to host University of Mount Olive on Tuesday at the Walker Tennis Center.
Kljajic and Lasry both forced third sets in their matches, Kljajic falling 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 to Francesca Ceppi in the No. 1 slot and Lasry losing 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to Roxanne Chouinard in the No. 2 spot. The Trojans (13-5, 9-2) won the other three singles matches played in straight sets and claimed No. 6 singles by default as BC competed a player short.
Playing together at No. 1 doubles, Kljajic and Lasry lost 8-5 to Ceppi and Chouinard, the closest of the three doubles matches. Mount Olive won the others 8-2 and 8-1.
The loss dropped Barton to 7-11 overall and 6-5 in league play.
The two teams will play again Friday on a neutral court in Sumter, S.C., in the opening round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament. The Lady Bulldogs will enter the event as the No. 6 seed and the Trojans as the No. 3 seed.
MOUNT OLIVE 9, BARTON 0
Singles
1. Francesca Ceppi (UMO-WT) def. Smiljana Kljajic (BARTON) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
2. Roxanne Chouinard (UMO-WT) def. Alicia Lasry (BARTON) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
3. Alejandra Hernandez (UMO-WT) def. Lorraine Chon-Qui (BARTON) 7-5, 7-6
4. Paulina Delgado (UMO-WT) def. Dana Kelly (BARTON) 6-3, 6-3
5. Maite Belloso (UMO-WT) def. Casey Utley (BARTON) 6-0, 6-1
6. Mariana Gamboa (UMO-WT) def. No player (BARTON), by default
Doubles
1. Francesca Ceppi/Roxanne Chouinard (UMO-WT) def. Smiljana Kljajic/Alicia Lasry (BARTON) 8-5
2. Alejandra Hernandez/Maite Belloso (UMO-WT) def. Lorraine Chon-Qui/Randi Price (BARTON) 8-2
3. Paulina Delgado/Jennifer Byrd (UMO-WT) def. Dana Kelly/Casey Utley (BARTON) 8-1
Records
Barton 7-11, 6-5
Mount Olive 13-5, 9-2
