SEARCY - The Harding women's tennis team defeated its third consecutive regionally-ranked opponent Saturday with a 7-2 victory over Southern Nazarene at the Harding Tennis Complex.

Harding improved to 10-5 overall with its fifth straight win and 2-0 in Great American Conference play. The Lady Bisons have defeated Nebraska-Kearney (No. 8 in ITA Central Region), Northwest Missouri St. (No. 7), and Southern Nazarene (No. 5) in its last three matches. Harding is now 3-0 at home and 3-3 against regionally-ranked teams.

Harding won two of the three doubles. Arielle Butler and Lauren Doversola made quick work of Haley Cantwell and Bekah Stewart at No. 3 doubles with an 8-0 victory. The duo is 2-0 in GAC matches and 4-2 overall. The Lady Bisons made it 2-0 with a come-from-behind win at No. 2. Ali Rowden and Katie Huff rallied from a 5-4 deficit to win 9-7 over Marina Shipilova and Karina Kotova. Rowden and Huff have a team-high seven doubles victories.

A pair of 6-0, 6-0 wins for Harding by Butler at No. 5 singles and Kaleigh Wagner at No. 6 singles gave Harding a 4-1 lead. Benyapa Phumtip's 47th career victory, a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Kotova at No. 3 singles, clinched the match for Harding. Huey won in three sets at No. 2 and Doversola added the seventh point with a three-set victory at No. 4 to close out the match.

Harding plays No. 29 Arkansas Tech on Friday in Searcy in a matchup of two of the top teams in the GAC.

Tennis Match Results
Southern Nazarene vs Harding
Mar 29, 2014 at Searcy, Ark.
(Harding Tennis Complex)

Harding 7, Southern Nazarene 2

 Singles competition
1. Masha Andrianova (SNU) def. Ali Rowden (HU) 7-5, 6-1
2. Piper Huey (HU) def. Natalia Moreno (SNU) 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
3. Benyapa Phumtip (HU) def. Marina Shipilova (SNU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Lauren Doversola (HU) def. Karina Kotova (SNU) 7-5, 4-6, 11-9
5. Arielle Butler (HU) def. Bekah Stewart (SNU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Kaleigh Wagner (HU) def. Haley Cantwell (SNU) 6-0, 6-0

 Doubles competition
1. Masha Andrianova/Natalia Moreno (SNU) def. Benyapa Phumtip/Piper Huey (HU) 9-8
2. Ali Rowden/Katie Huff (HU) def. Marina Shipilova/Karina Kotova (SNU) 9-7
3. Lauren Doversola/Arielle Butler (HU) def. Haley Cantwell/Bekah Stewart (SNU) 8-0

Match Notes:
Southern Nazarene 5-3, 3-2; Regional ranking #5
Harding 10-5, 2-0; Regional ranking #10
T-3:40  A-200