TENNIS MAKES HISTORY WITH ITS ROAD WIN OVER HARDING

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Golden Suns Tennis continued to make history here this past Friday as they picked up a 5-4 Gulf South Conference win over Harding to record its first-ever season sweep over the Lady Bison and also set a new school record for wins in a season with 15.

With the win, which improved Tech’s record to 15-4 overall and 3-2 in the GSC, the Golden Suns assured themselves of earning a second consecutive berth in this coming weekend’s GSC Tournament at Lagoon Park in Montgomery, Ala. Harding falls to 18-6 overall and 3-2 in the league with the loss.

Tech, who is ranked 12th in the latest NCAA Division II South Region Poll, opened Friday’s match by winning at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Tech won at No. 2 doubles, 8-5 and then won 9-8 (7-4 in a tiebreaker) at No. 3 doubles. The Lady Bison picked up an 8-3 win over Tech’s No. 1 team of sophomore Michelle Yu (Flower Mound, Texas) and freshman Brittany Turner (Pearcy, Ark.).

Meanwhile, in singles action, Tech needed third set wins at No. 3 by Yu and No. 6 by freshman Ashley Baird (Cabot, Ark.) to seal its second win this season over the Lady Bison. Yu picked up a 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 win over Harding’s Katherine Golik and Baird picked up a 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-3 win over Harding’s Janet Orgain.

Harding earned wins in singles play at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5. Tech’s other singles win came at the No. 4 spot as senior Kristen Brown (Winona, Texas) picked up a straight sets win over Gina Cielo. Tech will return to action on Monday, April 13, when they close out the regular season at home against Southern Arkansas. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at the Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex.

Arkansas Tech 5, Harding 4

SINGLES

No. 1 – Alicia Williams (HU) def. Anna Carson (Tech), 6-4, 6-4

No. 2 – Lola Pardo (HU) def. Brittany Turner (Tech), 6-0, 6-1

No. 3 – Michelle Yu (Tech) def. Katherine Golik (HU), 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3

No. 4 – Kristen Brown (Tech) def. Gina Cielo (HU), 6-0, 6-1

No. 5 – Haniel Gara (HU) def. Jessica James (Tech), 6-2, 6-2

No. 6 – Ashley Baird (Tech) def. Janet Orgain (HU), 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-3

DOUBLES

No. 1 – Williams/Pardo (HU) def. Yu/Turner (Tech), 8-3

No. 2 – Carson/Baird (Tech) def. Karye Saegert/Cielo (HU), 8-5

No. 3 – Brown/James (Tech) def. Gara/Golik (HU), 9-8 (7-4)

Harding Box Score

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