SEARCY – Harding women's tennis led Great American Conference leaders Arkansas Tech briefly but fell 6-3 to the Golden Suns on Friday at Harding Tennis Courts.

Arkansas Tech (8-4, 6-0) won two of the three doubles matches. Harding's No. 1 team of Benyapa Phumtip and Ali Rowden improved to 7-2 on the season with an 8-4 victory. The Lady Bisons' No. 3 team of Maria Moreno and Katie Huff battled from behind and forced a tiebreaker where they fell 9-8.

Trailing 2-1, Harding (9-6, 1-1) responded by winning the first two singles matches. Junior Kaleigh Wagner improved to 9-5 in singles action with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 6. Freshman Ali Rowden then put Harding ahead with a 6-1, 6-3 victory at No. 2. It was her second straight singles win and ninth of the season.

Arkansas Tech then won the final four singles matches for the come-from-behind victory.

Harding has a short turnaround due to recent rains that are forcing the team to play seven matches in the final 10 days of the regular season. The Lady Bisons play Southern Nazarene on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Bethany, Okla.

Tennis Match Results

Arkansas Tech vs Harding

Apr 05, 2013 at Searcy, Ark.

(Harding Tennis Courts)

Arkansas Tech 6, Harding 3

 Singles competition

1. Bohdana Sardak (ATU) def. Benyapa Phumtip (HU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1

2. Ali Rowden (HU) def. Aida Castany (ATU) 6-1, 6-3

3. Maria Aleman (ATU) def. Chelsea Lanier (HU) 7-6, 6-2

4. Laura Sanchez (ATU) def. Katie Huff (HU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3

5. Allison Grahl (ATU) def. Maria Moreno (HU) 6-1, 6-2

6. Kaleigh Wagner (HU) def. Nina Greenway (ATU) 6-1, 6-1

 Doubles competition

1. Benyapa Phumtip/Ali Rowden (HU) def. Laura Sanchez/Bohdana Sardak (ATU) 8-4

2. Maria Aleman/Camila Roca (ATU) def. Chelsea Lanier/Kaleigh Wagner (HU) 8-4

3. Nina Greenway/Allison Grahl (ATU) def. Maria Moreno/Katie Huff (HU) 9-8

Match Notes:

Arkansas Tech 8-4, 6-0; Regional ranking #9

Harding 9-6, 1-1

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,2,5,3,4,1)

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