Harding Women's Tennis Wins Three Three-Set Matches to Defeat Henderson State 5-4

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Harding women's tennis needed three third-set victories to come from behind and defeat Henderson State 5-4 on Tuesday at the Bettye Wallace Tennis Center, and Lady Bisons Laura Golubic, Gabriella Alves and Brittany Smyser all delivered.

Both teams are in the Great American Conference but Tuesday's match was a non-conference match. The teams will play again in Searcy on April 6 in a GAC match.

Harding improved to 5-4 overall and 4-2 regionally and against NCAA Division II teams. Henderson State fell to 4-6 overall.

The Lady Bisons trailed 2-1 after doubles but came back to win for the second time this season when down heading into singles. Harding also trailed 2-1 against Arkansas-Fort Smith on Feb. 24 and came back to win 5-4.

Gabriella Alves and Brittany Smyser earned Harding's doubles point at No. 2. The duo improved to 5-4 this season, the most wins of all the Lady Bison combinations.

Henderson State took a 3-1 lead with a victory at No. 1 singles, but Emily Faulkner pulled Harding within 3-2 with a 7-5, 7-6 at No. 6. It was Faulkner's first dual singles victory this season.

Henderson State pulled within one victory of winning with Mariah Bartlett's three-set win at No. 5.

Harding needed all three remaining matches. Golubic started the comeback with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 2. It was her fourth straight victory and moved her to 6-3 at No. 2 this season. Alves tied the match at 4-4 with a 7-6, 2-6, 6-1 victory at No. 3, and Smyser sealed the victory with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 triumph at No. 4. Smyser, a sophomore, has 19 career singles victories.

Harding will play its second of four matches in five days Wednesday at 2 p.m. against John Brown. It will be the Lady Bisons' first home match of the season.

Tennis Match Results
Harding vs Henderson St.
Mar 15, 2016 at Arkadelphia, Ark.
(Bettye Wallace Tennis Center)

Harding 5, Henderson St. 4

Singles competition
1. Annie Shannon (HSU) def. Piper Huey (HU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Laura Golubic (HU) def. Amanda Korinihona (HSU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. Gabriella Alves (HU) def. Sydnee Parker (HSU) 7-6, 2-6, 6-1
4. Brittany Smyser (HU) def. Alexa Cuello (HSU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
5. Mariah Bartlett (HSU) def. Arielle Butler (HU) 6-2, 0-6, 6-2
6. Emily Faulkner (HU) def. Sara Griffin (HSU) 7-5, 7-6

Doubles competition
1. Annie Shannon/Amanda Korinihona (HSU) def. Piper Huey/Laura Golubic (HU) 8-5
2. Gabriella Alves/Brittany Smyser (HU) def. Sara Griffin/Mariah Bartlett (HSU) 8-3
3. Sydnee Parker/Maddie McJunkins (HSU) def. Arielle Butler/Emily Faulkner (HU) 8-6

Match Notes:
Harding 5-4
Henderson St. 4-6
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,6,5,2,3,4)

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Players Mentioned

Gabriella Alves: Sophomore

Arielle Butler: Junior

Emily Faulkner: Sophomore

Laura Golubic: Sophomore

Piper Huey: Junior

Brittany Smyser: Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Gabriella Alves
: Sophomore

Arielle Butler
: Junior

Emily Faulkner
: Sophomore

Laura Golubic
: Sophomore

Piper Huey
: Junior

Brittany Smyser
: Sophomore