The No. 9 ranked Barton Community College women's tennis team rallied behind strong singles play Thursday afternoon, overcoming a doubles deficit to secure a 5-4 road victory over No. 13 Pratt Community College at the Walter P. Blake Tennis Complex.
Dropping two of the three doubles matches to open the dual, Barton found itself chasing early before flipping the momentum in singles play, winning four of six matches to claim the narrow road triumph. The victory adds another ranked win to the Cougars' resume, moving to 2-0 in conference play heading into a quick turnaround early next week in its conference and home finale.
Pratt grabbed the early edge with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles, as Ilse Smaalders and Sandra Rodriguez Dominguez teamed for an 8-6 win in the top matchup over Vitoria Campigotto and Danira Ndengoue, while Barbara Mattar and Alyse Zimmerman rolled to an 8-1 victory against Salalee Seejong and Lauren Barker in the No. 3 slot. Barton's lone doubles point came from the No. 2 pairing of Grace Tchamoussa and Jamie Petrova, grinding out a 9-8(2) tiebreak victory over Emma Guzman and Ebonie Russell.
Trailing 2-1, the Cougars responded with authority in singles, winning the top four matchups.
At the top of the lineup, No. 16 Campigotto controlled play in a 6-4, 6-2 win over Emma Guzman, while No. 18 Ndengoue matched the result at No. 2 singles with a 6-4, 6-2 victory against Ebonie Russell.
Tchamoussa delivered one of the day's most decisive performances, making quick work of the Beavers' Ilse Smaalders 6-1, 6-0 at the No. 3 position. Petrova provided the clinching cushion in a three-set battle at No. 4, bouncing back from a second-set slip to defeat Sandra Rodriguez Dominguez 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.
Pratt picked up its remaining points from Barbara Mattar at No. 5 singles (6-0, 6-1 over Seejong) and Alyse Zimmerman at No. 6 (6-3, 6-4 over Barker), but the Cougars' depth up top proved to be the difference in the one-point decision.
Barton wraps up the conference slate Tuesday in its final home match, hosting No. 2 Cowley College for a 1:00 p.m. first serve at Veterans Memorial Park's East Courts.