It wasn’t the day Coach Lyle Stickney was looking for. But in the long run, it didn’t matter that much.
The Barton women’s tennis team was not able to pick up a win until the final match at the Region VI Championships at Veterans Park Saturday during the opening round in a battle of three ranked teams.
But the Cougars will get to take a full team to the NJCAA Championships in Tucson, Ariz. Next month. With Hesston not fielding a women’s team, all the participants will head to the NJCAA Championships.
No. 6 Seward County and No. 8 Cowley will battle it out today for the region title.
Barton, ranked No. 16, finished third.
The Cougars were hoping to get wins from the No. 1 singles and doubles teams as well at No. 4 singles.
But only the No. 1 doubles accomplished that feat. The Cougars were the third seed in each of the events with the exception of No. 1 doubles, where Barton carried the second seed into the event.
Neus Torregrosa and Idah Longwe teamed to defeat the No. 1 team of Sarah Frendo and Sara Petric of Cowley to advance to the finals Sunday.
Torregrosa and Longwe won a 3-set thriller, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 to move on to face Seward’s Thalita Rodrigues and Lisa Suzuki Sunday for the Region VI title.
At No. 1 singles, Torregrosa took an early lead in her battle with Seward’s Rodrigues, but fell in two sets. Torregrosa lost the first set in a tie-breaker, during a 7-6 (4), 6-3 setback to place third.
Barton’s other good hope for a singles win came at No. 4 but Longwe lost to Cowley’s Maria Garduno in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.
Juliana Romalho battle for a set No. 2 singles, but fell to Cowley’s Barbara Broville, 6-4, 6-1.
Barton’s No. 3 doubles team also gave a battle in the second set, but came up short to the Cowley team of Maria Zimmerman and Broville, 6-2, 6-4.
The finals are set for Sunday at Vets Park with play starting a 9 am. Torregrosa and Longwe will play for the No. 1 doubles title at approximately 1 pm.
Next on the docket for the Cougars will be the NJCAA Championships in Tucson Ariz. That will take place May 7-11 in at the Reffkin Tennis Center.
Region VI
First Round
Singles
1 – Sarah Frendo, Cowley, received a bye
Thalita Rodrigues, Seward, def Neus Torregrosa, Barton, 7-6 (4), 6-3
2 – Sarah Manseri, Seward, received a bye
Barbara Broville, Cowley, def Julia Romalho, Barton, 6-4, 6-1
3 – Sara Petric, Cowley, received a bye
Lisa Suzuki, Seward, def Julianna Seabra, Barton, 6-0, 6-0
4 – Steffany Bermudez, Seward, received a bye
Maria Garduno, Cowley, def Idah Longwe, Barton, 6-3, 6-1
5 – Kasey Coker Cowley, received a bye
Martina Borges, Seward, def Jenna Groene, Barton, 6-1, 6-1
6 – Fernanda Santana, Seward, received a bye
Maria Zimmerman, Cowley, def Shai Cartmill, Barton, 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
1 – Rodrigues/Suzuki, Seward, received a bye
Torregrosa/Longwe, Barton, def Petric/Frendo, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
2 – Manseri/Bermudez, Seward, received a bye
Coker/Garduno, Cowley, def Romalho/Seabra, Barton, 6-2, 6-1
3 – Mrewa/Hoelting, Seward, received a bye
Broville/Zimmerman, Cowley, def Groene/Cartmill, Barton, 6-2, 6-4