Coach Lyle Stickney was looking for his top player to get a test on the court this season. Daniela Sanz had rolled through her four singles opponents to start her career for the Barton women’s tennis team.
She got that test Saturday against Tabor. Sanz was pushed to a tiebreaking set in her match at No. 1 singles but managed to come away with the win.
That, however, was the only win the Cougars had during a tough day in Hillsboro as Barton lost 8-1.
“Tabor has a good squad,” Coach Stickney said.”That and the fact that we just didn’t play very well culminated in the 1-8 beat-down.”
Sanz prevailed in her match against Tabor’s Jessica Emoto. Sanz won the opening set 6-3 then lost her first set of the season when Emoto reversed the first set score for a 6-3 win of her own.
Sanz was able to prevail in the final set by a 10-6 score to move to 5-0 on the season.
“Daniela struggled, but, she managed to keep her unbeaten streak intact with a win over a very good Tabor girl,” Coach Stickney said.
Playing outdoors for the first time this season was also a bit different for Sanz.
“Daniela had some complaints about the wind speeds as they gusted to nearly 5 mph,” Coach Stickney said of the Brazilian. “I informed her that the weather in Kansas won’t be any more favorable than it is today. I’m not sure she understood me, but, she will soon enough”
Sanz and her doubles partner Barbara Codognotto lost fot the first time this season. The duo put together the closest loss in doubles, falling 8-5 to Emoto and Becky Faber.
Codognotto had a close battle at No. 2 singles as well for Barton. She also went to a tiebreaking third set before falling to Heidi Klaassen, 6-4, 3-6, 10-6.
Claflin’s Karli Beck lost at No. 3 singles to Faber 6-1. 6-1 while Kelly Brauer lost at No. 4 singles, 6-4, 6-0 to Celeste Worthy. The two lost at No. 2 doubles to Kiana Fujioko and Klaassen by an 8-3 tally.
Great Bend’s Stephanie Langer and Rebecca Brining lost at No. 3 doubles to Lindsey Stroud and Worthy by an 8-4 score. Langer was blanked in No. 5 singles by Fujioko, 6-0, 6-0 and Brining lost to Krista Schmidt in No. 6 singles, 6-2, 6-2.