BOLIVAR, Mo. - The Harding women's tennis team won its fourth consecutive match and its second straight over a regionally-ranked opponent Friday with a 5-1 victory over Northwest Missouri State. The match was played on the campus of Southwest Baptist University.

Harding, ranked No. 10 in the ITA Central Region, won two of the three doubles matches and all three completed singles matches. It was the first win for Harding in three matches against Northwest Missouri, ranked No. 7 in the Central Region.

Harding's No. 1 doubles team of Benyapa Phumtip and Piper Huey upset Lorena Jarolim and Alexis Bartek, ranked No. 5 in the Central Region, 8-5 to give the Lady Bisons a 1-0 lead. Ali Rowden and Katie Huff won their third straight match at No. 2 with an 8-6 victory over Marianne Hull and Mara Veasey.

With a 2-1 lead, Harding quickly won two singles matches at No. 4 and No. 6. Kaleigh Wagner won 6-0, 6-0 for the fourth time this season in her victory over Veasey at No. 6, and Lauren Doversola won her fourth straight singles match 6-2, 6-2 over Stephanie Mannix at No. 4.

The Lady Bisons clinched the team win with Ali Rowden's 6-4, 6-2 victory over Jarolin, ranked No. 11 in Central Region singles. It was Rowden's second straigh victory over a regionally-ranked foe. She defeated No. 12 Vanessa Gunawan of Nebraska-Kearney 6-0, 6-1 on Nov. 24.

Harding returns to Great American Conference play Saturday at 10 a.m. The Lady Bisons host Southern Nazarene, ranked No. 5 in the Central Region, at the Harding Tennis Complex.

Tennis Match Results
Northwest Mo. St. vs Harding
Mar 28, 2014 at Bolivar, Mo.
(Southwest Baptist Univ.)

Harding 5, Northwest Mo. St. 1

 Singles competition
1. Ali Rowden (HU) def. Lorena Jarolim (NWMSU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Piper Huey (HU) vs. Alexis Bartek (NWMSU) 2-6, 6-3, unfinished
3. Benyapa Phumtip (HU) vs. Aniek Kolen (NWMSU) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
4. Lauren Doversola (HU) def. Stephanie Mannix (NWMSU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Arielle Butler (HU) vs. Marianne Hull (NWMSU) 1-6, 5-3, unfinished
6. Kaleigh Wagner (HU) def. Mara Veasey (NWMSU) 6-0, 6-0

 Doubles competition
1. Benyapa Phumtip/Piper Huey (HU) def. Lorena Jarolim/Alexis Bartek (NWMSU) 8-5
2. Ali Rowden/Katie Huff (HU) def. Marianne Hull/Mara Veasey (NWMSU) 8-6
3. Aniek Kolen/Stephanie Mannix (NWMSU) def. Lauren Doversola/Arielle Butler (HU) 9-8 (8-6)

Match Notes:
Northwest Mo. St. 8-9; Regional ranking #7
Harding 9-5; Regional ranking #10