Playing without its top player made life pretty tough for the Barton Community College tennis team Tuesday afternoon. In the Cougars’ only home match of the season, Barton played without Daniela Sanz and lost to Jayhawk foe Seward County.
Barton lost the match 8-1. A match that included a pair of default wins for the Saints due to the absence of Sanz and three tiebreak losses. It was the first match for either team against another 2-year school.
With Sanz out, the Cougars lost by default at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.  
The Cougars lone win came at No. 2 doubles where Barbara Codognotto and Karli Beck teamed up to beat Naomie Bukassa and Kellyn Peters 8-5. Without Sanz, Codognotto’s normal partner at No. 1 doubles, she moved down to No. 2 and teamed with Beck.
“Our lone win came in the two doubles match,” Coach Stickney said. “I’m moving some of the ladies around looking for better doubles chemistry, I think I’ve found it with Karli and Barbara as they won very convincingly.”  
That domino effect continued as Beck’s normal partner, Kelly Brauer, went to No. 3 doubles and partnered with Stephanie Langer. The duo lost to Grace Golden and Xochitl Gonzalez by and 8-6 (3) tiebreaker.
Barton gave battle in a pair of the singles match as well, taking them to a third and deciding set. Langer lost at No. 5 singles to Gonzalez, 3-6, 6-2, 10-6. Rebecca Brining lost to Golden at No. 6, 3-6, 6-3, 10-5.
“We had opportunities to catch-up or go ahead in the dual, but, it was another perfunctory performance by several of our players. It’s so frustrating to watch our team lose so many close matches,” Coach Stickney said. “I don’t understand how we can lose three tiebreakers. I don’t know if it’s nerves, ability, motivation or a confidence issue. But, we need to get it straightened out.”   
Codognotto was blanked at her match in No. 2 singles, 6-0, 6-0 by Paula Coyos. Beck lost to Peters, 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3 singles, and Brauer lost 6-3, 6-0 at No. 3 to Bukassa.
The Cougars will get 10 days off before taking on Ottawa University April 4 in Newton. The Cougars also have matches against Region VI foes Hesston and Cowley College prior to the Region VI tournament in late April.