SEARCY – With the Harding-UAPB dual match tied at three wins each, Harding junior Henrique Ruiz faced two match-points in his No. 1 singles match against Hugo Gomez of UAPB on Tuesday. The winner of the match would give his team the victory.

Ruiz battled back in the third-set tie-breaker, defeated Gomez, and gave the Bisons a 4-3 victory over the NCAA Division I Lions. Ruiz prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 13-11.

UAPB had only four eligible players and forfeited at No. 3 doubles and Nos. 5 and 6 singles. The three doubles matches against Division I teams count as only one point.

Despite the forfeit at No. 3 doubles, UAPB collected the doubles point with 8-4 wins at No. 1 and No. 2.

The singles forfeits gave Harding a 2-1 lead entering the other singles matches and left the Bisons needing two wins.

Harding got the first of those wins at No. 4, where Adam Edwards won 6-1, 7-6. UAPB won at No. 2 and No. 3, setting up Ruiz's heroics at the top spot.

The win gave the Bisons a 2-0 record on the season as Harding hosts Hendrix on Wednesday in its only home action of the fall.

Tennis Match Results

Harding vs UAPB

Oct 05, 2010 at Pine Bluff, Ark.

Harding 4, UAPB 3

Singles competition

1. Henrique Ruiz (HU) def. Hugo Gomez (UAPB) 6-4, 3-6, 13-11

2. Eduardo Luque (UAPB) def. Alex Ford (HU) 6-3, 6-1

3. Tito Bonadonna (UAPB) def. Ivan Michelli (HU) 6-4, 7-5

4. Adam Edwards (HU) def. Jorge Villacis (UAPB) 6-1, 7-6

5. Germans Uglovs (HU) def. No player (UAPB), by default

6. Sammy Lhotak (HU) def. No player (UAPB), by default

Doubles competition

1. Hugo Gomez/Eduardo Luque (UAPB) def. Henrique Ruiz/Alex Ford (HU) 8-4

2. Tito Bonadonna/Jorge Villacis (UAPB) def. Adam Edwards/Germans Uglovs (HU) 8-4

3. Sammy Lhotak/Ivan Michelli (HU) def. No player/No player (UAPB), by default

Match Notes:

Harding 2-0