The Barton Community College men's tennis team opened their 2024 spring season on Tuesday with an 8-1 victory at Bethel College.
The Cougars found themselves trailing 2-1 after doubles action at the Ward Tennis Center but swept all singles matches against the KCAC preseason third ranked Threshers.
Gabriel Garay and Shane Tapera in the No. 2 doubles slot was the lone Cougars' tandem victory at 6-2 before each went three sets of singles play keeping the 1v1 slate a Barton sweep.
Garay, the Cougars' No. 2 singles player, won his first set 6-3 but was forced to a third by a 3-6 tally in eventually winning 10-6. Tapera, playing in the No. 4 slot, had to bounce back from a 4-6 defeat in winning ensuing 6-2 and 10-7 sets.
Mateo Prado, who along with Hayden Loffler dropped the No. 3 doubles matchup 6-1, also went three sets in the No. 5 singles. Like Garay, Prado was down a set after a 7-4 first frame tiebreak but recovered with a 6-0 blanking before winning 10-5 in the third.
The No. 1 doubles duo of Victor Alves and Fernando Andre lost 6-4 but each grinded out singles play victories, Alves winning in 6-3 straight sets in the No. 1 matchup with Andre earning a hard fought No. 3 bout 6-4 and 7-5.
Not playing in the doubles play, Oliver Naude filled the No. 6 slot with a straight set 6-4 score victory.
Following a day of rest, the Cougars will travel to Salina on Thursday for a 2:00 p.m. first serve at Kansas Wesleyan University.