Henderson State Defeats Harding Women's Tennis in Nonconference Contest

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - A pair of doubles wins and an early singles victory had Harding needing only two wins in the last five remaining singles matches against Henderson State, but those two wins never came. The Reddies defeated the Lady Bisons 6-3 in the first of two matches between the teams this season.

Thursday's match was not the official Great American Conference match, but when the teams meet in Searcy on April 3, the match will count in the conference standings.

Harding (9-3) had its five-match winning streak snapped despite a strong start in doubles. The Lady Bisons held a 2-1 lead with wins coming at No. 1 and No. 2. Laura Golubic and Arisa Takanashi won their sixth straight match together 8-6 at No. 1, and Gabriella Alves and Hana Folse won for the third straight time at No. 2.

Takanashi won her 11th consecutive singles match and moved to 11-0 in dual matches with a 6-2, 3-0 (retired) win over Annie Shannon, the 20th-ranked singles player in the Central Region.

Henderson State responded with straight sets wins at Nos. 4, 5, and 6 to take a 4-3 lead. Reddie Sydnee Parker fought off match points to win at No. 3 to clinch the match.

Harding is back at home Saturday at noon to take on Northwest Missouri State of the NCAA Division II MIAA.

Tennis Match Results
Harding vs Henderson St.
Mar 15, 2018 at Arkadelphia, Ark.
(Bettye Wallace Tennis Center)

Henderson St. 6, Harding 3

Singles competition
1. Arisa Takanashi (HU) def. Annie Shannon (HSU) 6-2, 3-0, retired
2. Thea Minor (HSU) def. Gabriella Alves (HU) 4-6, 6-1, 2-3, retired
3. Sydnee Parker (HSU) def. Laura Golubic (HU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6
4. Lorraine Banimataku (HSU) def. Hana Folse (HU) 6-4, 6-1
5. Mariah Bartlett (HSU) def. Paulina Kostka (HU) 6-0, 6-4
6. Lorish Puluspene (HSU) def. Jordan Shaw (HU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Laura Golubic/Arisa Takanashi (HU) def. Annie Shannon/Sydnee Parker (HSU) 8-6
2. Gabriella Alves/Hana Folse (HU) def. Thea Minor/Mariah Bartlett (HSU) 8-4
3. Lorraine Banimataku/Lorish Puluspene (HSU) def. Emily Faulkner/Jordan Shaw (HU) 8-1

Match Notes:
Harding 9-3; Regional ranking #7
Henderson St. 3-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,5,6,4,3,2)

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Players Mentioned

Gabriella Alves: 5' 5"; Senior

Emily Faulkner: 5' 6"; Senior

Laura Golubic: 5' 6"; Senior

Arisa Takanashi: 5' 3"; Junior

Hana Folse: 5' 5"; Freshman

Jordan Shaw: 5' 8"; Freshman

Paulina Kostka: 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Gabriella Alves
: 5' 5"; Senior

Emily Faulkner
: 5' 6"; Senior

Laura Golubic
: 5' 6"; Senior

Arisa Takanashi
: 5' 3"; Junior

Hana Folse
: 5' 5"; Freshman

Jordan Shaw
: 5' 8"; Freshman

Paulina Kostka
: 5' 6"; Freshman