SEARCY - Harding women's tennis ran its winning streak to nine matches and took out another nationally-ranked opponent with a 6-3 victory over No. 50 Arkansas-Fort Smith on a breezy Thursday afternoon at the Harding Tennis Complex. The Lady Bisons also avenged an 8-1 loss to the Lady Lions in October in Harding's second match of the season.

Harding improved to 14-5 overall, 12-3 in regional matches, and 5-3 against regionally-ranked teams, and 2-2 against nationally-ranked teams. Arkansas-Fort Smith dropped to 10-5 overall.

Harding entered the match ranked No. 4 in the Central Region Rankings released by the NCAA on Wednesday. Arkansas-Fort Smith, a member of the Heartland Conference, was No. 5 in the South Central Region.

The Lady Bisons trailed early, falling behind 2-1 after doubles. Harding's lone point came at No. 2 doubles where Ali Rowden and Katie Huff won 8-4. It was the 10th doubles victory of the season for the duo, the highest victory total of any of Harding's doubles teams.

Arkansas-Fort Smith's Abby Thompson won the first singles match at No. 6 to give the Lions a 3-1 victory. Then came an avalanche of wins for Harding in singles. Four of the wins came in straight sets, and Arielle Butler wrapped up the match with a three-set victory at No. 5.

Ali Rowden defeated Abby White, the No. 5 singles player in the South Central Region, 6-4, 6-3. Piper Huey (No. 2) and Lauren Doversola (No. 4) both extended their singles winning streaks to eight straight matches. Butler's win was her fifth straight and her 13th of the season.

Harding returns to the courts Saturday against East Central in Ada, Okla., needing a victory to clinch the Great American Conference regular season championship.

Tennis Match Results
Ark.-Fort Smith vs Harding
Apr 10, 2014 at Searcy, Ark.
(Harding Tennis Complex)

Harding 6, #50 Ark.-Fort Smith 3

 Singles competition
1. Ali Rowden (HU) def. Abby White (UAFS) 6-4, 6-3
2. Piper Huey (HU) def. Amy Belanger (UAFS) 6-3, 7-5
3. Benyapa Phumtip (HU) def. Masa Podunavac (UAFS) 6-4, 6-1
4. Lauren Doversola (HU) def. Madison Carr (UAFS) 6-2, 6-3
5. Arielle Butler (HU) def. Taylor Price (UAFS) 6-2, 4-6, 10-4
6. Abby Thompson (UAFS) def. Kaleigh Wagner (HU) 6-3, 6-0

 Doubles competition
1. Abby White/Masa Podunavac (UAFS) def. Benyapa Phumtip/Piper Huey (HU) 8-6
2. Ali Rowden/Katie Huff (HU) def. Abby Thompson/Amy Belanger (UAFS) 8-4
3. Madison Carr/Whitney Hobson (UAFS) def. Lauren Doversola/Arielle Butler (HU) 9-7

Match Notes:
Ark.-Fort Smith 10-5; National ranking #50; Regional ranking #5
Harding 14-5; Regional ranking #10
Harding is ranked No. 4 in the NCAA's Central Region Rankings and No. 10 in the
ITA's Central Region Rankings.
Arkansas-Fort Smith is ranked No. 5 in the NCAA's South Central Region Rankings
and in the ITA's South Central Region Rankings.