ST. LOUIS, Mo. - In a late-night match at the Frontenac Racquet Club, Missouri-St. Louis won three of the four matches that went to tiebreakers and defeated Harding 5-4 on Monday night.

Harding, ranked No. 9 in the ITA Central Region, dropped to 4-3 overall. Missouri-St. Louis, who is ranked No. 7 in the Midwest Region, improved to 3-1.

Harding trailed 2-1 after doubles. The Lady Bisons earned a point at No. 1 doubles where Benyapa Phumtip and Piper Huey won their second straight match and improved to 3-1 on the season with an 8-3 victory.

Harding won three of the six doubles matches, including two over regionally-ranked players. Ali Rowden defeated Lina Parra, the No. 8 singles player in the Midwest Region, in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3. It was Rowden's second straight singles victory and moved her to 7-4 overall and 4-2 in dual matches.

Freshman Piper Huey won her fourth straight match, defeating Renee Verboven 10-6 in a third-set tiebreaker. Huey is 8-3 on the season and a perfect 5-0 at No. 2 dual matches.

Phumtip, ranked No. 9 in the Central Region, defeated Natalia Carvalhais, the No. 11 players in the Midwest Region, 7-6, 6-2. Phumtip has a team-best nine singles victories this season and is 5-1 in dual matches.

Harding plays Tuesday at noon against Central Region foe Lindenwood.

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

Missouri-St. Louis 5, Harding 4

 Singles competition
1. Ali Rowden (HU) def. Parra, Lina (UMSLW) 7-5, 6-3
2. Piper Huey (HU) def. Verboven, Renee (UMSLW) 6-4, 5-7, 10-6
3. Benyapa Phumtip (HU) def. Carvalhais, Natalia (UMSLW) 7-6, 6-2
4. Werner, Louisa (UMSLW) def. Lauren Doversola (HU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Bellanger, Nina (UMSLW) def. Arielle Butler (HU) 6-3, 6-7, 10-1
6. Cantalupo, Leanne (UMSLW) def. Kaleigh Wagner (HU) 7-5, 2-6, 11-9

 Doubles competition
1. Benyapa Phumtip/Piper Huey (HU) def. Parra, Lina/Carvalhais, Natalia (UMSLW) 8-3
2. Werner, Louisa/Verboven, Renee (UMSLW) def. Ali Rowden/Katie Huff (HU) 8-6
3. Bellanger, Nina/Duchaine, Chandler (UMSLW) def. Lauren Doversola/Kaleigh Wagner (HU) 9-8

Match Notes:
Harding 4-3; Regional ranking #9
Missouri-St. Louis 3-1; Regional ranking #7
Missouri-St. Louis is the No. 7 team in the Midwest Region. Harding is the No. 9
team in the Central Region.