SEARCY - The Harding men's tennis team won its eighth straight match Thursday, defeating Arkansas-Fort Smith 5-4 at the HU Tennis Courts. The Bisons improved to 14-3 overall with the victory.

Harding won two of the three doubles matches. Chris Beach and Ivan Michelli improved to 2-1 with an 8-5 victory at No. 2. Adam Edwards and Helio Hashimoto eked out a 9-8 victory at No. 3 to remain unbeaten at 3-0.

The Bisons then won the first three singles matches to clinch the victory. Henrique Ruiz was ahead 6-3, 3-0 at No. 1 when his opponent retired due to illness. Ruiz is 5-6 in singles play this season. Marco Ruiz also won when his opponent retired in the first set. He is 5-2 in singles action. Beach then won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3 to clinch the match. Beach is 5-4 in singles play.

Tennis Match Results
Arkansas-Fort Smith vs Harding
Apr 01, 2010 at Searcy, Ark.
(HU Tennis Courts)

Harding 5, Arkansas-Fort Smith 4

 Singles competition
1. Henrique Ruiz (HU) def. Lubos Sobotka (UAFS) 6-3, 3-0, retired
2. Marco Ruiz (HU) def. Matheus da Silva (UAFS) 4-1, retired
3. Chris Beach (HU) def. Brandon Underwood (UAFS) 6-2, 6-3
4. Evan Piche (UAFS) def. Ivan Michelli (HU) 3-6, 6-2, 10-3
5. T.J. Holmes (UAFS) def. Adam Edwards (HU) 1-6, 7-6, 10-5
6. Martin Tabler (UAFS) def. Helio Hashimoto (HU) 3-6, 6-2, 10-5

 Doubles competition
1. Lubos Sobotka/Brandon Underwood (UAFS) def. Henrique Ruiz/Marco Ruiz (HU) 8-5
2. Chris Beach/Ivan Michelli (HU) def. T.J. Holmes/Matheus da Silva (UAFS) 8-5
3. Adam Edwards/Helio Hashimoto (HU) def. Evan Piche/Martin Tabler (UAFS) 9-8

Match Notes:
Harding 14-3