The Harding men's tennis team improved to 3-1 on Friday as they defeated No. 19 UT-Tyler 6-1 early in the day and sweeping Collin College 7-0 in the evening. 

Against UT-Tyler, the Bisons continued their hot start to the season in doubles action and secured the early 1-0 lead for the third consecutive match. Cian Mikkelsen and Cas De Ruiter opened the match with a 6-3 victory at No. 2. After an Patriot victory at No. 3, the Bisons looked to Dani Ortiz and Teodor Zlatar for the final victory and they delivered, winning 6-4 at No. 1 over the No. 6 doubles team in NCAA Division II Gonzalo Fernandez and Joaquin Bianchi. 

Bryce Walker put the Bisons up 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 6. Milosh Petrovic won 7-5, 7-5 at No. 4 to put the Bisons one match away from their second victory of the season. The Patriots responded, winning their lone point of the match at No. 2. 

The Bisons took the final three singles matches in close battles. Ortiz, the No. 7 singles player in NCAA Division II, clinched the match at No. 1, winning 7-6, 6-3. De Ruiter dropped the first set before cruising through the final two sets to win at No. 3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0. Edoardo D'arrigo also came back from a set down, winning at No. 5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. 

In the second match of the day, the Bisons swept the Cougars in doubles action. Ortiz and Zlatar won 6-2 at No. 1. Harding took both No. 2 and No. 3 matches by a 6-4 score. 

Walker won the 40th match of his career, and second of the day, at No. 5 singles with a 6-0, 6-1 victory. Ortiz picked up his 50th career singles victory with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 1. Zlatar, Mikkelson, and Petrovic all won in straight sets at No. 2, No. 6, and No. 4. De Ruiter completed the sweep with a three-set victory at No. 3.

Harding will look to continue their winning streak on Sunday when they take on UT-Dallas at 11 a.m.