by Cory Guinn
BRISTOL, TENN. – The Barton College women's tennis team suffered its eighth consecutive Conference Carolinas loss of the season with a 5-4 defeat at the hands of King University on Saturday morning.
The Tornado held a 2-1 lead after doubles play with the duo of senior Smiljana Kljajic and freshman Vanessa Sanoja winning 8-1 at No. 1 doubles. The victory even the tandem's league record to 4-4 overall on the season.
After King won at No. 5 singles, Barton evened the score at three-all with back-to-back wins by Kljajic and junior Dana Kelly. Kljajic won 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 in a three-set match at No. 1, while Kelly won her second straight match with a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 3.
Sanoja claimed a 6-0, 6-0 straight-set win at No. 2 singles before the Tornado came from behind with wins at No. 4 and No.6 singles to steal the match victory.
Barton hosts Southern Wesleyan at the Barton Tennis Complex on Friday, April 8 before ending the regular season against Pfeiffer University at home on Saturday, April 9 in Wilson.
KING 5, BARTON 4
Singles:
1. Smiljana Kljajic (BARTON) def. Marianne Hull (KING) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
2. Vanessa Sanoja (BARTON) def. Nia Gilliam (KING) 6-0, 6-0
3. Dana Kelly (BARTON) def. Catherine Vezey (KING) 7-5, 6-4
4. Ashley Salazar (KING) def. Whitney Hamilton (BARTON) 7-6 (7-1), 6-0
5. Alyssa Salazar (KING) def. Casey Utley (BARTON) 6-1, 6-0
6. Haley Maloney (KING) def. Rebecca Lamm (BARTON) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles:
1. Smiljana Kljajic/Vanessa Sanoja (BARTON) def. Ashley Salazar/Marianne Hull (KING) 8-1
2. Haley Maloney/Catherine Vezey (KING) def. Casey Utley/Whitney Hamilton (BARTON) 8-1
3. Alyssa Salazar/Nia Gilliam (KING) def. Dana Kelly/Rebecca Lamm (BARTON) 8-6
Records:
Barton 2-16, 0-8 CC
King University 5-11, 2-5 CC
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,3,1,2,4,6)
