HESSTON – The Barton Community College women’s tennis team got healthy Tuesday. In a couple of ways. First Barton had a full team participating after struggling last outing with that. Secondly, the Cougars picked up a 9-0 win – breaking a 6-match losing streak.

The Cougars rolled through their Region VI opponent not losing a set and never losing more than three games in any one set.

“I was proud of the way our ladies rebounded after a tough loss on Saturday, I stressed that this was a very important meet with the Regional implications,” Coach Lyle Stickney said.  “The thing I’m most pleased with was our ability to play through injuries, we’re pretty beat-up right now…it’s not common to see the training room filled with tennis players.”

Marguax Perez got her first taste of No. 1 singles action this year and rolled to an easy win. Perez dropped just one game during a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Brooke Hershberger. Daniela Sanz, who has been playing No. 1 all season, dropped to No. 2 and had similar score winning 6-0, 6-1 over Dusti Diener.

Barbara Codognotto returned from an injury over the weekend and rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Molly Cherveny at No. 3 singles. That was the same score Karli Beck knocked off Adrienne Derstine at No. 4.

Kelly Brauer also won easily in her singles match, defeating Lorren Oesch at No. 5 by a 6-1, 6-1 final. Becca Brining worked a little harder at No. 6 singles, winning 6-3, 6-3 over Courtney Wengerd.

The doubles matches were only a bit more competitive. Perez and Sanz won 8-2 over Diener and Hershberger at No. 1 while Codognotto and Beck won 8-3 over Derstine and Oesch.

Stephanie Langer and Brauer teamed at No. 3 doubles and had the easiest day with an 8-0 win over Wengerd and Rachel Short-Miller.

The Cougars have one more regular season match before heading to the Region VI meet later this month. Barton will travel to Arkansas City Monday to take on Cowley County. It won’t be easy as Cowley is ranked in the Top 10 this season.
The Region VI meet, which includes No. 8 Cowley and No. 14 Seward County as well as Hesston will be April 24 at Arkansas City.

“All of the women played well, probably the best we’ve played collectively this season,” Coach Stickney said. “If we can get this type of effort the rest of the way I think that we have a better than good chance of qualifying for nationals.”