by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. – Three separate singles matches needed three sets to be decided and two doubles contests used a tiebreak as the Barton women's tennis team fell to visiting Emmanuel (Ga.) College 5-4 on Saturday afternoon at the Barton Tennis Complex.
After Emmanuel won the first point of the day with an 8-2 victory at No. 1 doubles, BC tied the score with an 8-7 (7-5) win at No. 2 by the duo of Vanessa Sanoja and Elle Vietz. Barton's No. 3 doubles team of Lorraine Chon-Qui and Dana Kelly put the team ahead with an 8-7 (7-3) win in the finals doubles contest.
Singles play was a tightly contested affair for both sides as three different matchups needed three sets to be decided.
Sanoja was victorious for the seventh consecutive time, winning 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3. Kelly earned Barton's fourth point with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 6, her fourth in a row, leaving the Lady Bulldogs just one point shy of a victory.
However, Emmanuel responded with four straight singles wins to seal the comeback victory. Daria Avram, Marissa Stevenson and Chon-Qui all won their first sets in singles play before ultimately falling in three sets, while the Lions earned a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 5.
Barton concludes its four-match home stand tomorrow when it hosts Shaw University in a non-conference contest.
Emmanuel (Ga.) 5, Barton 4
Singles:
1. Fantine Botella (EMM-WT) def. Marissa Stevenson (BARTON) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-2
2. Pearllan Cipriano (EMM-WT) def. Daria Avram (BARTON) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Vanessa Sanoja (BARTON) def. Maria Rich (EMM-WT) 6-1, 6-1
4. Victoria Silva (EMM-WT) def. Lorraine Chon-Qui (BARTON) 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5
5. Katharina Kiderlen (EMM-WT) def. Elle Vietz (BARTON) 6-3, 6-2
6. Dana Kelly (BARTON) def. Chloe O'Connor (EMM-WT) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles:
1. Fantine Botella/Chloe O'Connor (EMM-WT) def. Daria Avram/Marissa Stevenson (BARTON) 8-2
2. Vanessa Sanoja/Elle Vietz (BARTON) def. Maria Rich/Katharina Kiderlen (EMM-WT) 8-7 (7-5)
3. Lorraine Chon-Qui/Dana Kelly (BARTON) def. Pearllan Cipriano/Victoria Silva (EMM-WT) 8-7 (7-3)
Records:
Emmanuel College 5-8, 2-1
Barton College 5-5, 2-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,6,5,2,1,4)
