ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State took two of three doubles matches against Arkansas Tech on Tuesday afternoon, but the Golden Suns rallied to take five of the six singles contests to win it 6-3 at the Bettye Wallace Tennis Center.
The Reddies (1-5) got off to a strong start to the match and took two of three doubles matches from the Golden Suns to take a 2-1 lead early. Henderson's No. 1 team of
Annie Shannon and
Sydnee Parker, in their first match together this season, fought past ATU's Kathi Drebka and Teresa Sanchez 8-4 for the first win of the day.
Lorraine Banimataku and
Lorish Puluspene, the Reddies' No. 3 squad, fell behind 5-2 in their match against Alejandra Sanchez and Katie Harris, but fought all the way back and took six of the next seven games to claim an 8-6 win and give HSU the advantage after the three doubles contests.
Tech began to take control in singles play. After
Lorraine Banimataku got a win at No. 4 over Kami Ward, 7-5, 6-4, the Golden Suns proceeded to win at the No. 2, 3 and 5 spots in straight-sets, as well as at No. 1 after Shannon was forced to retire in the first set due to injury. Puluspene continued to battle at No. 6 for the Reddies, winning the second set 6-2 after dropping the first, but could not close it out, as she fell in three to Megan Bell. The five singles victories helped Tech erase the doubles deficit and rally to win it 6-3.
Henderson's next match is Friday at 2 p.m. against Southern Nazarene at the Bettye Wallace Tennis Center.
FINAL RESULTS:
SINGLES:
1. Kathi Drebka (ATU) def.
Annie Shannon (HSU) 3-0, RETIRED
2. Teresa Sanchez (ATU) def.
Thea Minor (HSU) 6-0, 6-4
3. Julia Schoch (ATU) def.
Sydnee Parker (HSU) 6-4, 6-3
4.
Lorraine Banimataku (HSU) def. Kami Ward (ATU) 7-5, 6-4
5. Annabel Rowlands (ATU) def.
Mariah Bartlett (HSU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Megan Bell (ATU) def.
Lorish Puluspene (HSU) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
DOUBLES:
1. Shannon/Parker (HSU) def. Drebka/Sanchez (ATU) 8-4
2. Rowlands/Ward (ATU) def. Minor/Bartlett (HSU) 8-5
3. Banimataku/Puluspene (HSU) def. Sanchez/Harris (ATU) 8-6
