SEARCY - The Harding women's tennis team defeated its first regionally-ranked opponent of the season Monday as the Lady Bisons, No. 10 in the ITA Central Region Rankings, defeated No. 8 Nebraska-Kearney 6-3.

Harding improved to 8-5 overall, 6-3 in regional matches, and 1-3 against regionally-ranked teams. Nebraska-Kearney, a member of the NCAA II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, fell to 11-5 overall.

Harding led 4-3 as the final two singles matches moved to the third set. The Lady Bisons needed only one win from either Piper Huey at No. 2 singles or Lauren Doversola at No. 4 singles, but both won closed out their matches with victories.

Harding won two of the three doubles matches. Ali Rowden and Katie Huff defeated Emily Fink and Kristin Weems 8-6 at No. 2 for their fifth victory in eight matches together this season. Arielle Butler and Lauren Doversola won their second straight match and improved to 3-1 as a duo with an 8-4 victory over Paula Jimenez and Renee Hoekstra at No. 3 doubles.

Harding won four of the six singles matches, including a pair of wins over regionally-ranked singles players. Rowden defeated Vanessa Gunawan, the No. 12 singles player in the Central Region, 6-0, 6-1 for her 20th career singles victory. She is now 2-2 against regionally-ranked opponents this season. Huey's win at No. 2 came over No. 18 Kristin Weems, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. It was her first career win over a regionally-ranked opponent.

Harding's Benyapa Phumtip, No. 9 in the region, defeated Jimenez 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3, and Doversola finished off Fink 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4.

The match against Nebraska-Kearney was the first of four straight against regionall-ranked teams. Harding's next match is Friday against No. 7 Northwest Missouri St., in Springfield, Mo. On Saturday, Harding hosts No. 5 Southern Nazarene in Great American Conference play before playing a road conference match against No. 2 Arkansas Tech on Apr. 4.

Tennis Match Results
Neb.-Kearney vs Harding
Mar 24, 2014 at Searcy, Ark.
(Harding Tennis Complex)

Harding 6, Neb.-Kearney 3

 Singles competition
1. Ali Rowden (HU) def. Gunawan,Vanessa (UNK) 6-0, 6-1
2. Piper Huey (HU) def. Weems,Kristin (UNK) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
3. Benyapa Phumtip (HU) def. Jimenez,Paula (UNK) 6-3, 6-3
4. Lauren Doversola (HU) def. Fink,Emily (UNK) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Norfolk,Britni (UNK) def. Arielle Butler (HU) 6-4, 6-1
6. Emery,Kari (UNK) def. Kaleigh Wagner (HU) 6-2, 6-0

 Doubles competition
1. Gunawan,Vanessa/Emery,Kari (UNK) def. Benyapa Phumtip/Piper Huey (HU) 8-2
2. Ali Rowden/Katie Huff (HU) def. Fink,Emily/Weems,Kristin (UNK) 8-6
3. Arielle Butler/Lauren Doversola (HU) def. Jimenez,Paula/Hoekstra,Renee (UNK) 8-4

Match Notes:
Neb.-Kearney 11-5; Regional ranking #8
Harding 8-5; Regional ranking #10
T-3:57  A-200