Harding Women's Tennis Falls 5-4 to Henderson State in GAC Matchup

SEARCY – Henderson State won two doubles matches and three singles matches to defeat Harding 5-4 on Thursday at the Harding Tennis Courts.

The loss dropped Harding to 12-6 overall and 2-2 in Great American Conference matches. Henderson State improved to 8-6 and 1-1 in the GAC.

Henderson State took a 1-0 lead with an 8-3 victory at No. 1 doubles. The Reddie combination of Amanda Korinihona and Annie Shannon won for the 11th time in 13 matches and their fourth straight.

Harding evened the match 1-1 at No. 3 singles. Gabriella Alves and Brittany Smyser won 8-5 for their 10th dual doubles victory this season. The duo is now 3-1 in GAC doubles matches.

Henderson State retook the lead 2-1 with a 9-7 victory at No. 2. Harding saved three match points in the final game but could not even the match.

The Reddies took a 3-1 lead with a win at No. 1 singles, but Harding answered with a 7-5, 6-2 by Arielle Butler at No. 5 to pull within one match. It was Butler's 11th singles victory this season and the 36th in her career.

Harding pulled even at 3-3 with Laura Golubic's win at No. 2. Golubic led 7-5, 4-3 when Henderson State's Amanda Korinihana retired with a leg cramps.

Henderson State took a 4-3 lead with a 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 4 and clinched the match with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 5.

Harding's fourth point came at No. 6, where Emily Faulkner won 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 in a match that lasted three hours. It was Faulkner's fourth straight win and gave her a 12-6 singles record.

Tennis Match Results
Henderson St. vs Harding
Apr 07, 2016 at Searcy, Ark.
(Harding Tennis Courts)

Henderson St. 5, Harding 4

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

Doubles competition
1. Annie Shannon/Amanda Korinihona (HSU) def. Piper Huey/Laura Golubic (HU) 8-3
2. Sara Griffin/Mariah Bartlett (HSU) def. Arielle Butler/Emily Faulkner (HU) 9-7
3. Gabriella Alves/Brittany Smyser (HU) def. Sydnee Parker/Maddie McJunkins (HSU) 8-5

Match Notes:
Henderson St. 8-6, 1-1
Harding 12-6, 2-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,5,2,4,3,6)
Official: Joel Gamil

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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