Harding Women's Tennis Triumphs in Marathon Match, Levels Series with Drury

Box Score SEARCY – In their fourth victory out of five home matches, Harding women's tennis leveled the all-time series with Drury from the Great Lakes Valley Conference at eight wins apiece, securing a 5-2 triumph at the David Elliott Tennis Complex. The marathon match endured for over four hours.

Harding's overall record now stands at 9-5, with three additional wins against junior colleges, marking their first win against Drury in Searcy in 22 years. Notably, the teams have played their last eight matches at Drury in Springfield, Missouri.

The Lady Bisons secured the doubles point for the ninth time in 14 matches, boasting an 8-1 record when winning this crucial point. Reka Pecsi and Georgia Plunkett claimed victory with a 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles, while Grace Dodd and Sofia Sarmiento Ruiz clinched the doubles point with a hard-fought 7-6 (7-4) win, lasting nearly an hour. Pecsi and Plunkett have now won six out of eight matches this season, while Dodd and Ruiz celebrated their first win together in their second pairing.

All six singles matches extended to three sets, with five surpassing the two-hour mark. Harding emerged victorious on each of the top four lines.

Karli Roux claimed victory at No. 1, with scores of 6-7, 7-6, 6-1, marking her team-best fifth victory on the top line. She boasts an overall record of 11-5, with 8-3 in duals.

At No. 2 singles, Alexia Zarate Valdez rallied from a set down to win 4-6, 6-0, 7-5. Her victory brings her to 6-3 at No. 2, and 11-8 overall, with an 8-5 record in duals.

Ruiz secured victory at No. 3 singles with a score of 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, marking her team-leading 13th overall win. She stands at 9-4 in duals, the highest win total on the team.

Romane Britt clinched her third straight match with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory at No. 4, boasting a 6-2 overall record.

Harding's upcoming match is scheduled for Wednesday at 1 p.m. against Freed-Hardeman. This marks the first meeting between the teams in women's tennis since 2004.

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Players Mentioned

Romane Britt: 5' 11"; Junior

Grace Dodd: 5' 8"; Junior

Karli Roux: 5' 7"; Freshman

Georgia Plunkett: 5' 11"; Freshman

Reka Pecsi: 5' 5"; Freshman

Sofia Sarmiento Ruiz: 5' 6"; Freshman

Alexia Zarate Valdez: 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Romane Britt
: 5' 11"; Junior

Grace Dodd
: 5' 8"; Junior

Karli Roux
: 5' 7"; Freshman

Georgia Plunkett
: 5' 11"; Freshman

Reka Pecsi
: 5' 5"; Freshman

Sofia Sarmiento Ruiz
: 5' 6"; Freshman

Alexia Zarate Valdez
: 5' 8"; Freshman