by Benny Benton
BELMONT, N.C. – The Barton College women's tennis team improved to 5-2 in Conference Carolinas play by downing host Belmont Abbey College, 7-2, at Reidy Tennis Center Wednesday.
The Lady Bulldogs, now 6-8 overall, claimed all three doubles matches in setting the stage for the victory. BC's No. 1 duo of Smiljana Kljajic and Alicia Lasry won, 8-2, as did the No. 2 tandem of Meredith Pruden and Lorraine Chon-Qui. The No. 3 team of Dana Kelly and Casey Utley claimed an 8-6 win.
Kljajic overwhelmed her opponent at the No. 1 singles spot, 6-0, 6-0, and Lasry lost just two games in her 6-2, 6-0 victory in the No. 2 slot. Pruden took a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 3, and Kelly provided another 6-0, 6-0 shutout at No. 5.
The loss dropped Belmont Abbey to 4-12 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
Kljajic has now won five straight and nine of her last 11 in both singles and doubles. Kelly is 7-2 in her last nine starts, and Pruden is 6-2 in her last eight matches.
Barton will host defending league champion Erskine College on Friday at 2 p.m.
BARTON 7, BELMONT ABBEY 2
Singles
1. Smiljana Kljajic (BARTON) def. Katharine Miller (BAC-W) 6-0, 6-0
2. Alicia Lasry (BARTON) def. Alex Weber (BAC-W) 6-2, 6-0
3. Meredith Pruden (BARTON) def. Erika Noblett (BAC-W) 6-1, 6-2
4. Meghan Philp (BAC-W) def. Lorraine Chon-Qui (BARTON) 6-2, retired
5. Dana Kelly (BARTON) def. Brigid Donohue (BAC-W) 6-0, 6-0
6. Nicole Ferren (BAC-W) def. Casey Utley (BARTON) 7-6, 6-1
Doubles
1. Smiljana Kljajic/Alicia Lasry (BARTON) def. Alex Weber/Katharine Miller (BAC-W) 8-2
2. Meredith Pruden/Lorraine Chon-Qui (BARTON) def. Erika Noblett/Meghan Philp (BAC-W) 8-2
3. Dana Kelly/Casey Utley (BARTON) def. McKenzie Owen/Brigid Donohue (BAC-W) 8-6
Records
Barton 6-8, 5-2
Belmont Abbey 4-12, 2-5
