GRAMBLING, La. — Henderson State swept the doubles matches on Thursday against Division I Grambling State, but dropped a tight contest to the Tigers 4-3.

The Reddies caught a bit of bad luck rules-wise against their DI opponent. At the DI level, doubles play in its entirety counts as a single point in the overall scoring of the match. This differs from the Division II scoring method which counts all three doubles contests as individual points to be won. Playing under the DI rules against its host, Henderson swept all three doubles matches, but took just a 1-0 advantage heading into singles play. That 1-0 lead would have been a commanding 3-0 under the DII parameters the Reddies typically see.

In the individual matches, both Thea Minor and Mariah Bartlett picked up wins for the Reddies to make it 3-0, with Minor, Henderson's No. 2, going the distance to claim victory in a three-set thriller, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, and Bartlett making quick work of the No. 5 contest in a 6-2, 6-1 win.

Grambling picked up straight-set wins at No. 4 and No. 6 singles to close the gap to 3-2, but Henderson remained just one win away from claiming the match. The Reddies could not find that final win, however, as HSU's No. 1 Annie Shannon and No. 3 Sydnee Parker each fell in tough three-set matches. The final two singles results were enough to push the Tigers to a 4-3 match victory.

Henderson returns to action on April 3 at 2 p.m. against Harding in Searcy, Arkansas.