Lady Cougar Tennis drops dual with Fort Hays State University

The Barton Community College tennis women's team wrapped up their last indoor meet Tuesday with a 7-2 loss to Fort Hays State University.  Held at Club 1 Fitness Center in Great Bend, the Lady Cougars won the top doubles dual and picked up a victory in the singles in the most competitive singles match of the day.   Barton will next host Seward County Community College on Saturday with first serve at 12:00 p.m. at Great Bend's Veteran's Memorial Park tennis courts.

The No. 1 doubles team of Karina Ono and Barbara Codognotto began the meet with a 8-4 victory over FHSU's Camille Bedard and Raven Dick.  Barton wasn't as fortunate in the other two duals as the Lady Cougars only won two games.  The No. 2 doubles of Omelia Thomas and Kelly Brauer fell 8-2 to FHSU's Brittney Ricci and Katie Hipp.  Unable to get a game victory of the No. 3 doubles match, Courtney Irwin and Brittanie Eskut fell to the Tigers' Reinette Strydom and Michelle Miller 8-0.

In the battle of Ellinwood High School graduates, Barton freshman Omelia Thomas defeated Michelle Miller 8-6 in the No. 3 singles competition.   Playing for Barton from 2011-2013, Miller earned multiple academic and athletic awards during her time at Barton including having teamed up with Ono last season to reach the consolation semifinals at the NJCAA Division I Tennis Championships.

Ono won the most games in the singles competition, but dropped an 8-4 match in the No. 1 singles Tigers' Bedard.  In the No. 2 match, Codognotto fell to Ricci 8-3.   Falling by identical 8-2 scores, No. 4 Brauer and No. 6 Eskut lost to FHSU's Hipp and Dick.  The No. 5 singles didn't fare well either as Irwin lost 8-1 to Strydom.