SEARCY, Ark. – In a match that came down to the final set on the final court, the Harding women's tennis team secured its biggest win of the season Saturday, upsetting No. 40 Northeastern State 4-3 at the Elliott Tennis Complex.
Freshman Brooke Coffman provided the heroics at No. 3 singles, rallying from a set down to clinch the dual for the Lady Bisons (3-7).
How It Happened
The afternoon began with Harding seizing the doubles point. The No. 7-ranked duo of Karli Roux and Brooke Coffman made quick work of the No. 33-ranked pair of Daisy Barrow and Renata Morales, winning 6-1. After the RiverHawks (7-4) leveled the field with a win at No. 2, the team of Ece Boylu and Sofia Sarmiento Ruiz clinched the point for Harding with a 6-4 victory at the No. 3 position.
In singles play, the lead traded hands several times as the depth of both lineups was tested.
-
Sofia Sarmiento Ruiz extended the Harding lead to 2-0 with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 performance at the No. 5 spot.
-
Karli Roux, currently ranked No. 33 in the nation, followed suit at No. 1, dispatching Renata Morales 6-3, 6-3 to put the Lady Bisons on the brink of victory.
Northeastern State mounted a fierce comeback, recording straight-sets wins at No. 4 and No. 6, and a three-set victory at No. 2, to tie the dual at 3-3.
The Clincher
All eyes turned to the No. 3 flight, where Coffman was locked in a marathon against Sofiia Kotliarova. After dropping the first set 6-2, Coffman displayed the resilience that has defined her freshman campaign. She took the second set in a tiebreaker and outlasted Kotliarova in the third, winning 2-6, 7-6 (10-8), 7-5 to ignite the celebration in Searcy.
Stat of the Night
With her singles victory today, senior Karli Roux moved into a tie for 14th place on Harding's all-time career singles wins list. Her 63rd career victory pulls her even with Jessica Ruiz (1992-96).
#40 Northeastern State 3, Harding 4
Doubles Competition
-
#7 Karli Roux/Brooke Coffman (HU) def. #33 Daisy Barrow/Renata Morales (NSU) 6-1
-
Lucia Bontempo/Sofiia Kotliarova (NSU) def. Mia Hosking/Paula Rega (HU) 6-2
-
Ece Boylu/Sofia Sarmiento Ruiz (HU) def. Camila de Michele/Laura Mertens (NSU) 6-4
Singles Competition
-
#33 Karli Roux (HU) def. Renata Morales (NSU) 6-3, 6-3
-
Daisy Barrow (NSU) def. Ece Boylu (HU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
-
Brooke Coffman (HU) def. Sofiia Kotliarova (NSU) 2-6, 7-6 (10-8), 7-5
-
Laura Mertens (NSU) def. Natalia Alvarez (HU) 6-0, 6-0
-
Sofia Sarmiento Ruiz (HU) def. Lucia Bontempo (NSU) 6-1, 6-1
-
Carla Alvarez Perez (NSU) def. Mia Hosking (HU) 6-2, 7-5
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (4, 5, 1, 6, 2, 3)
