ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State swept doubles play and came through with victories in three tight singles matches to defeat Southern Nazarene 7-2 on Friday afternoon in its Great American Conference opener.

For the third-straight match, the Reddies had great success in doubles. Henderson's No. 1 duo of Annie Shannon and Sydnee Parker claimed a convincing 8-3 win, which was followed by an 8-4 victory at No. 3 from Lorraine Banimataku and Lorish Puluspene. Thea Minor and Mariah Bartlett, the Reddies' No. 2 team, found themselves in a much tighter match, but came up with the service break late to win 8-6 and give HSU a 3-0 lead heading into individual competition.

In singles play, Henderson got another quick boost when Puluspene made quick work of SNU's Zoe Gray, 6-0, 6-2, to put the Reddies in front 4-0.  HSU's final three wins were battles, but the Reddies showed grit and toughness as Shannon, Parker and Banimataku each pulled out three-set victories after dropping the first set.

The win is the Reddies' first of the season on their home court and moves them to 2-5 on the year but 1-0 in GAC action. With its clean sweep of the doubles matches on Friday, Henderson is now 8-1 in pairs play in its last three contests.

HSU returns to action on Sunday in Ruston, Louisiana, when it faces Grambling State at 10 a.m. and Louisiana Tech at 3 p.m.

FINAL RESULTS
SINGLES:
1. Annie Shannon (HSU) def. Noelia Gomez (SNU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-1
2. Polina Chala (SNU) def. Thea Minor (HSU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Sydnee Parker (HSU) def. Anna Garcia (SNU) 5-7, 6-2, 3-0 (Retired)
4. Lorraine Banimataku (HSU) def. Dragana Samardzic (SNU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Judit Mas (SNU) def. Mariah Bartlett (HSU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
6. Lorish Puluspene (HSU) def. Zoe Gray (SNU) 6-0, 6-2

DOUBLES:
1. Shannon/Parker (HSU) def. Gomez/Mas (SNU) 8-3
2. Minor/Bartlett (HSU) def. Garcia/Samardzic (SNU) 8-6
3. Banimataku/Puluspene (HSU) def. Chala/Gray (SNU) 8-4