SEARCY – Harding played its closest Great American Conference match of the season but dropped a 5-4 decision to East Central on Monday at the Harding tennis courts.
The Bisons fell to 10-10 overall and 0-3 in the GAC. Harding's next action will come at the GAC Tournament. The Bisons will take on regular-season champions Southeastern Oklahoma on Friday at noon in Bentonville, Arkansas. The winner of that match will play the winner of the Ouachita Baptist-East Central match Saturday at 11 a.m.
Harding earned the first point of its match with East Central at No. 3 doubles. The team of Adrian Torrico and Neto Cacace won for the 14th time, with 11 of the victories coming at No. 3. The 11 victories is tied for second-most by a Harding doubles team at No. 3, equaling the 11 wins of Richard Branham and Tom Tabor in 1981 and trailing only the school record of 15 by Andrew Garner and Darren Wade in 1998.
It was Cacace's 20th overall doubles victory of the season, making him the first Bison with 20 or more doubles wins since Guillermo Hernandez won 21 in 1998.
Freshman Carlos Crisostomo played No. 1 singles and defeated Marc Fillat, the No. 18 singles player in the NCAA Division II Central Region. Crisostomo lost the first set 6-3 but responded with consecutive 6-2 victories. It was the third win this season by a Harding player over a regionally-ranked opponent and the first for Crisostomo.
Cacace won for the third time in his last four matches at No. 6 singles, taking a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Stefan Schodlbauer. It was Cacace's 10th singles victory of the season.
Torrico collected Harding's fourth point. He trailed 6-3, 4-2 when his opponent, Adria Abella, retired due to fatigue. Torrico improved to 13-3 with the victory and won for the 11th time in his last 12 matches.
Tennis Match Results
East Central vs Harding
Apr 20, 2015 at Searcy, Ark.
(Harding tennis courts)
East Central 5, Harding 4
Singles competition
1. Carlos Crisostomo (HU) def. Marc Fillat (ECU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. Alex Fillat (ECU) def. Josh Hurt (HU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
3. Marc Lerch (ECU) def. Brandon Hogland (HU) 1-0, retired
4. Trevor Kipping (ECU) def. Mark Claiborne (HU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Adrian Torrico (HU) def. Adria Abella (ECU) 3-6, 2-4, retired
6. Neto Cacace (HU) def. Stefan Schodlbauer (ECU) 6-3, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Alex Fillat/Marc Fillat (ECU) def. Brandon Hogland/Felipe Carbonari (HU) 8-6
2. Marc Lerch/Adria Abella (ECU) def. Josh Hurt/Carlos Crisostomo (HU) 8-6
3. Adrian Torrico/Neto Cacace (HU) def. Trevor Kipping/Stefan Schodlbauer (ECU) 8-3
Match Notes:
East Central 7-11, 1-2 GAC; Regional ranking #7
Harding 10-10, 0-3 GAC; Regional ranking #9
