SEARCY – Harding freshman Jon Mark Rowden sent the Bison tennis team into the offseason in style Thursday with an inspirational three-set victory over Hendrix's Mike Gardner to complete a 9-0 shutout.

Harding remained perfect in the fall season with a 4-0 record, while Hendrix fell to 1-1.

Rowden, a native of Greenbrier, Ark., won the first set 7-5 but dropped the second set 6-4. The match stretched past the three-hour mark and went to a super tiebreaker to decide the third set. In a super tiebreaker, the first player to win eight points and win by two wins the match.

Gardner took a 7-1 lead in the tiebreaker as Rowden began to suffer leg cramps. Rowden battled through the cramps and won seven straight points before Gardner knotted the tiebreaker at 8-8. Rowden won the next point and captured the match when Gardner hit a forehand into the net on match-point.

The victory capped the shutout for the Bisons, who won all the other matches in straight sets. Harding's men won 22 of 24 singles matches in the fall season and 10 of 12 doubles matches.

Rowden, Caleb McReynolds and Henrique Ruiz each finished the fall 3-0 in singles competition. McReynolds and Alex Ford combined to go 3-0 at No. 2 doubles.

Tennis Match Results
Hendrix vs Harding
Oct 06, 2011 at Searcy, Ark.
(Harding Tennis Courts)

Harding 9, Hendrix 0

 Singles competition
1. Jon Mark Rowden (HU) def. Michael Gardner (HC) 7-5, 4-6, 10-8
2. Alex Ford (HU) def. Robert Sheets (HC) 6-3, 6-4
3. Henrique Ruiz (HU) def. Ben Thomas (HC) 6-0, 6-0
4. Helio Hashimoto (HU) def. Udai Garimella (HC) 6-1, 6-0
5. Caleb McReynolds (HU) def. Kent Dunson (HC) 6-1, 6-0
6. Adam Edwards (HU) def. Eli Harpst (HC) 6-2, 6-1

 Doubles competition
1. Jon Mark Rowden/Henrique Ruiz (HU) def. Michael Gardner/Robert Sheets (HC) 8-0
2. Alex Ford/Caleb McReynolds (HU) def. Ben Thomas/Udai Garimella (HC) 8-3
3. Adam Edwards/Helio Hashimoto (HU) def. Kent Dunson/Casey Wynn (HC) 8-0

Match Notes:
Hendrix 1-1
Harding 4-0
T-4:00