SEARCY – In a match that lasted just over an hour, Harding women's tennis won its first Great American Conference contest with a 9-0 blanking of Southern Arkansas.

The victory was Harding's third straight and gave the team a 15-4 overall record and a 6-1 home mark.

Southern Arkansas fell to 1-9 overall and 0-2 in conference.

Harding did not lose a game in blowing through the three doubles matches. Ling Chan and Benyapa Phumtip improved to 8-1 with their victory at No. 1. Chelsea Hunt and Callie Huey played together for the first time this season and won at No. 2. Caren Vestal and Maria Moreno improved to 2-0 with their win at No. 3.

Harding also won all six singles matches in straight sets.

Vestal opened the singles matches with a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 5 to improve to 5-0 in singles play. Harding clinched the match with Cina Catteau's 6-2, 6-0 victory at No. 6. Catteau is 5-2 on the season.

Maria Moreno's victory at No. 3 gave Harding a 6-0 lead. Moreno has won four straight singles matches and is 8-1 on the season. Gabby Rowden earned the seventh point for Harding with her 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 4. Rowden is unbeaten in six singles matches this season.

Katie Huff improved to 11-4 with her victory at No. 2, and Gina Cielo concluded the match with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at No. 1, her team-leading 15th singles victory of the season.

The Lady Bisons continue conference play Friday in Ada, Okla., against East Central.

Tennis Match Results
Southern Arkansas vs Harding
Mar 28, 2012 at Searcy, Ark.
(Harding Tennis Courts)
 
Harding 9, Southern Arkansas 0
 
 Singles competition
1. Gina Cielo (HU) def. Rachel Wetherington (SAU) 6-3, 6-0
2. Katie Huff (HU) def. Lauren Barnard (SAU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Maria Moreno (HU) def. Jamie Poe (SAU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Gabrielle Rowden (HU) def. Rebecca Hensley (SAU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Caren Vestal (HU) def. Autumn Foster (SAU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Cina Catteau (HU) def. Jordan White (SAU) 6-2, 6-0
 
 Doubles competition
1. Ling Chan/Benyapa Phumtip (HU) def. Lauren Barnard/Jamie Poe (SAU) 8-0
2. Chelsea Hunt/Callie Huey (HU) def. Rachel Wetherington/Rebecca Hensley (SAU) 8-0
3. Caren Vestal/Maria Moreno (HU) def. Jordan White/Autumn Foster (SAU) 8-0
 
Match Notes:
Southern Arkansas 1-9, 0-2
Harding 15-4, 1-0