The Barton County Community College women's team competed this past weekend at the Southwest JUCO hosted by Collin College in Plano, Texas.
Doubles play led the highlighted finishing among some of the top fellow NJCAA teams in the country as the Cougars went 2-2 in tandem action.
The No. 2 duo of Azul Barrios and Malena Hernandez won the third place match 8-3, receiving a first round bye before bouncing back from an 8-1 semifinal match 8-1 to the eventual second place finishers.
Angelina Gnezdilova and Clara Penido rebounded from an 8-3 defeat to the eventual third place finishers to win the consolation 8-4.
In the top singles draw, Gnezdilova battled the eventual champion in the first round, losing 6-4, 6-2, before playing a marathon in the consolation finals trading 6-2 and 5-7 sets before coming up short 18-16 in the tiebreak.
Penido also lost a pair of battles on the weekend, losing 6-2, 7-5 to the eventual No. 2 singles runner-up in the first round before dropping a competitive 6-3, 6-4 in consolation finals.
Hernandez' first No. 3 match came in the semifinals after receiving a bye, losing 6-2, 7-5, before dropping the third place match 6-0, 6-1.
In the No. 4 slot, Barrios' first round 6-0, 6-1 loss to the eventual 3rd place finishers would be the lone on-court singles action in receiving a walk-over win in the consolation finals.
Receiving a bye in the first round of the No. 6 flight, Jacie Roth lost by twin 6-0 scores to the eventual runner-up before taking the same result in the third place match.
The Cougars did not compete in the No. 5 singles nor the No. 3 doubles matches due to an injury withdrawal.
Barton returns to duel action to wind up the regular season, beginning a three-date homestand on Wednesday hosting 4th ranked Cowley College in a 1:00 p.m. first serve at Veteran's Park. The Cougars will then host 5th ranked Seward County Community College on April 18th before getting a final tune-up match April 21st against Ottawa University in preparation of the Region VI Championship.
Barton Singles Results:
#1 Angelina Gnezdilova drops 1st match 6-4, 6-2; Lost 6-2, 5-17, 18-16 in Consolation Final
#2 Clara Penido drops 1st match 6-2, 7-5; Lost 6-3, 6-4 in Consolation Final
#3 Malena Hernandez 1st Rd bye; drops Semis 6-2, 7-5; Lost 3rd Place match 6-0, 6-1
#4 Azul Barrios drops 1st match 6-0, 6-1; Wins Consolation Final in walkover
#5 Paula Curci withdrawal
#6 Jacie Roth 1st Rd bye; drops Semis 6-0, 6-0; Lost 3rd Place match 6-0, 6-0
Barton Doubles Results:
#1 Angelina Gnezdilova/Clara Penido drops 1st match 8-3; Won Consolation Final 8-4
#2 Azul Barrios/Malena Hernandez rec'd bye; Lost in Semis 8-1; Won 3rd place 8-3
#3 Paula Curci/Jacie Roth withdrawal