BENTONVILLE, Ark. – No. 3 seed Harding survived a back-and-forth thriller in the opening round of the Great American Conference Tournament, edging Southern Arkansas 4-3 on Friday morning at Memorial Park.
The Lady Bisons secured the win in dramatic fashion when freshman Brooke Coffman rallied at No. 2 singles. After dropping the first set, Coffman forced a third-set tiebreaker and outlasted Roksana Kokocha 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) to clinch the match and send Harding to the semifinals.
Harding got off to a fast start by securing the doubles point. Mia Hosking and Paula Rega won by default at No. 3, and the top-flight duo of Karli Roux and Brooke Coffman clinched the point with a 6-4 victory over Taylor Conway and Roksana Kokocha.
In singles play, Harding benefited from a default win by Sofia Sarmiento Ruiz at No. 6 and an injury retirement at No. 5, where Mia Hosking was awarded the match over Victoria Perez.
However, the Muleriders fought back with three straight victories. Newly minted GAC Player of the Year Karli Roux suffered a rare setback at the top flight, falling 6-4, 6-4 to SAU's Jolina Mass. Southern Arkansas also picked up wins at No. 3 and No. 4 to tie the overall match at 3-3, setting the stage for Coffman's heroics at the No. 2 position.
Harding (7-12) advances to the GAC semifinals to face No. 2 seed Henderson State. The match is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, at 11 a.m.
Harding 4, Southern Arkansas 3
Doubles Competition
-
Karli Roux/Brooke Coffman (HU) def. Taylor Conway/Roksana Kokocha (SAU) 6-4
-
Ece Boylu/Sofia Sarmiento Ruiz (HU) vs. Jolina Mass/Isabella Lazzerini (SAU) unfinished
-
Mia Hosking/Paula Rega (HU) def. No Player/No Player (SAU) by default
Singles Competition
-
Jolina Mass (SAU) def. Karli Roux (HU) 6-4, 6-4
-
Brooke Coffman (HU) def. Roksana Kokocha (SAU) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
-
Isabella Lazzerini (SAU) def. Ece Boylu (HU) 7-5, 6-2
-
Taylor Conway (SAU) def. Natalia Alvarez (HU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-0
-
Mia Hosking (HU) def. Victoria Perez (SAU) 0-0, retired (injury)
-
Sofia Sarmiento Ruiz (HU) def. No Player (SAU) by default
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 1); Singles (6, 5, 1, 3, 4, 2)
