FLORENCE, S.C. – The Barton women's tennis team participated this past weekend at the 2019 City of Florence Invitational. The tournament – the second time this city has hosted – brings in eight teams from around the Southeast Region and beyond for a three-match compass draw. The tournament ties were all played as a clinch-clinch format with the first team to four points taking the victory.
Friday, February 8 - Wingate 4, Barton 0
The Bulldogs opened the tournament against the eventually champion and No. 23-ranked Wingate. The No. 2 doubles – featuring sophomore Vanessa Sanoja (Bolivar, VENEZUELA) and sophomore Ada Vargas (Lima, PERU) – the third doubles – sophomore Claudia Capellades (Barcelona, SPAIN) and freshman Isabella Caballero (La Paz, SPAIN) – both succumbed to 6-1 setbacks to drop the doubles point. In singles play, the bottom three positions for the Bulldogs had straight set losses.
Saturday, February 9 - Barton 4, Bluefield State 3
At first doubles, the Bulldogs' team of senior Daria Avram (Buzau, ROMANIA) and junior Marissa Stevenson (Kirk Michael, ISLE OF MAN) made quick work with a 6-0 victory before the doubles point was secured by the third pairing: Capellades and Caballero.
In singles competition, Caballero grabbed the first point with her victory at the fifth singles – 6-0 and 6-3 – with the rest of the matches going back and forth before Sanoja defeated Bluefield State's Milica Knezavic (Navi Sad, SERBIA) at No. 3 singles to claim the match.
Saturday, February 9 - Newberry 4, Barton 2
The Wolves secured the doubles point with victories at No. 2 doubles and No. 3 doubles. In singles action, Cabellero and Capellades picked up wins for the Bulldogs at the fifth and sixth positions but it wasn't enough. Newberry secured the match with a win at No. 1 singles with Elisa Aguirre (Guayaquil, ECUADOR) winning in a close contest over Avram, 7-6 and 7-5.
Barton next travels to Raleigh, N.C., to take on Meredith on Thursday, February 14, at 2:00 p.m.
