SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Harding women's tennis team suffered its first loss of the season Friday with an 8-1 defeat to No. 20 Drury at the Cooper Tennis Complex.Drury (6-0) won all three doubles matches, and five of the six singles matches in straight sets.
Harding's lone point came at No. 1 singles where Piper Huey defeated Hadeil Ali, the No. 49 singles player in Division II, by scores of 2-6, 6-3, 10-8. Huey, a sophomore, is 8-3 in singles and has won five straight. It was her first career victory over a nationally-ranked opponent. Last season, Ali defeated Huey 6-1, 6-3.
Harding (4-1) plays its final match before spring break Saturday at 1 p.m. against Nebraska-Kearney.
Tennis Match Results
Harding vs Drury University
Feb 27, 2015 at Springfield, Mo.
(Cooper Tennis Complex)
#20 Drury University 8, Harding 1
Singles competition
1. Piper Huey (HU) def. #49 Hadeil Ali (DU) 2-6, 6-3, 10-8
2. Monsch, Stefanie (DU) def. Ali Bishop (HU) 6-0, 6-4
3. Muller, Lara (DU) def. Katie Huff (HU) 6-1, 6-0
4. Zambrano, Samanta (DU) def. Arielle Butler (HU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Halicka, Weronika (DU) def. Brittany Smyser (HU) 6-0, 6-2
6. Karl, Larissa (DU) def. Emily Faulkner (HU) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Monsch, Stefanie/Muller, Lara (DU) def. Ali Bishop/Piper Huey (HU) 8-2
2. Hadeil Ali/Karl, Larissa (DU) def. Katie Huff/Arielle Butler (HU) 8-2
3. Zambrano, Samanta/Halicka, Weronika (DU) def. Brittany Smyser/Emily Faulkner (HU) 8-2
Match Notes:
Harding 4-1; Regional ranking #7
Drury University 6-0; National ranking #20; Regional ranking #1
Drury is ranked No. 1 in the Midwest Region.
Harding is ranked No. 7 in the Central Region.