The Harding men's tennis team picked up their fourth straight win with a 5-2 defeat of Southeastern Oklahoma on Saturday in Durant, Oklahoma. The win snapped a four-match win streak by the Savage Storm over the Bisons, with the Bisons last winning on April 8, 2017.
The Bisons came into the match as the No. 5-ranked team in the Central Region and improved to 9-4 on the year and 3-0 in conference while Southeastern Oklahoma, the No. 6-ranked team in the Central Region, fell to 7-9 overall and 1-4 in conference. The Bisons remain the lone undefeated team in the GAC/MIAA South Division.
Arthur Bellan and
Dani Ortiz won the first set of the day with a 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles. It was Bellan's 30
thcareer doubles victory and Ortiz's 20
th career win. After the Savage Storm took No. 3 doubles,
Morgan Salvan and Alvaro de Lorenzo needed a tiebreaker to win the set and secure the doubles point, putting the Bisons up 1-0 early.
The Savage Storm won two singles matches at No. 1 and No. 3 while Ortiz picked up his 10
th singles win of the season, 6-4, 6-3, to level to match at 2-2. The Bisons finished off the match, winning the final three singles matches of the day. De Lorenzo won his fifth consecutive in straight sets at No. 5, 6-3, 6-0.
Luis Tirado won at No. 4, 6-3, 7-5.
Bryce Walker battled back from a set down to win at No. 6, 0-6, 6-3, 12-10, for his 20
th career singles victory.
The Bisons will look to finish their conference season undefeated on April 15 when they host Ouachita Baptist beginning at 2 p.m.