ST. LOUIS, Mo. - In a match that began on Monday and finished early Tuesday morning, the 39th-ranked Harding men's tennis team suffered its first loss of the season 5-2 to Missouri-St. Louis.

The teams had to wait for the carpeted courts of the public Frontenac Racquet Club until 9 p.m. and the match ended after midnight.

Harding was swept in doubles for the first time this season and went into singles down 3-0.

The Bisons won two of the four singles matches that were completed before the Tritons clinched the winning point. Freshman Mathaus Spiering, ranked 18th in the NCAA Division II ITA Central Region Singles Rankings, won his eighth straight singles match and improved to 10-1 this season in singles. Spiering defeated Nils Mueggenburg, the No. 5-ranked player in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region, 6-4, 6-1. Freshman Yann Le Mat won 7-5, 6-2 at No. 3 singles and improved to 7-3 overall and 4-1 in dual singles matches.

Harding plays again Tuesday at noon against Lindenwood.

Tennis Match Results
Harding vs Mo.-St. Louis
Feb 24, 2014 at St. Louis, Mo.
(Frontenac Racquet Club)

Mo.-St. Louis 5, #39 Harding 2

 Singles competition
1. Mathaus Spiering (HU) def. Nils Mueggenburg (UMSL) 6-4, 6-1
2. Harry Heyburn (UMSL) def. Jon Mark Rowden (HU) 6-3, 1-6, 11-9
3. Yann Le Mat (HU) def. Gabriel Oliveria (UMSL) 7-5, 6-2
4. Tim McLarty (UMSL) def. Brandon Hogland (HU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Dario Vidaurre (UMSL) vs. Caleb McReynolds (HU) 3-2, unfinished
6. Tim Gorter (UMSL) vs. Germans Uglovs (HU) unfinished

 Doubles competition
1. Nils Mueggenburg/Harry Heyburn (UMSL) def. Mathaus Spiering/Jon Mark Rowden (HU) 8-4
2. Tim Gorter/Gabriel Oliveria (UMSL) def. Yann Le Mat/Brandon Hogland (HU) 8-2
3. Tim McLarty/Dario Vidaurre (UMSL) def. Caleb McReynolds/Josh Hurt (HU) 8-1

Match Notes:
Harding 4-1; National ranking #39; Regional ranking #4
Mo.-St. Louis 3-1
Harding was ranked #4 in the Central Region and #39 in Division II.