RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Henderson State claimed two singles victories over Arkansas Tech on Saturday afternoon, but the Golden Suns won four, as well as all three doubles contests, to defeat the Reddies 7-2 in the final regular season match of the year for both teams.
The Reddies got off to a shaky start on the road, as Arkansas Tech went three-for-three in doubles to open the match, and jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.
Needing a response, Henderson got one from No. 1 singles player
Annie Shannon and No. 6
Lorish Puluspene. Shannon made quick work of Tech's Katharina Drebka, 6-2, 6-1, while Puluspene came out with a win against Haeleigh Long, 7-5, 6-2. The back-to-back singles victories gave the Reddies life in the match, and cut the Tech lead down to just 3-2.
The three wins in doubles proved to be too big of a hole to climb out of, however, as the Golden Suns answered Henderson's two wins with two of their own at No. 2 and No. 3 singles. Those two results were enough to clinch the match for Tech, who improved to 6-0 on its home courts this year.
The win for Shannon was her fifth at No. 1 this season, while Puluspene notched her team-leading seventh win this year in the No. 6 spot.
With the loss, Henderson becomes the No. 5 seed for the Great American Conference Tournament next weekend in Bentonville, Arkansas. The Reddies will play No. 4Â seed Harding in the first round.
FINAL RESULTS
DOUBLES:
1. Katharina Drebka/Kami Ward (Tech) def.
Annie Shannon/
Sydnee Parker (HSU) 9-8
2. Teresa Sanchez/Megan Bell (Tech) def.
Thea Minor/
Mariah Bartlett (HSU) 8-6
3. Annabel Rowlands/Katie Harris (Tech) def.
Lorraine Banimataku/
Lorish Puluspene (HSU) 8-5
SINGLES:
1.
Annie Shannon (HSU) def. Katharina Drebka (Tech) 6-2; 6-1
2. Teresa Sanchez (Tech) def.
Thea Minor (HSU) 7-6 (7-4); 6-2
3. Kami Ward (Tech) def.
Sydnee Parker (HSU) 7-6; 6-2
4. Annabel Rowlands (Tech) def.
Lorraine Banimataku (HSU) 5-7; 6-4; 10-8
5. Katie Harris (Tech) def.
Mariah Bartlett (HSU) 7-6; 4-6; 6-0
6.
Lorish Puluspene (HSU) def. Haeleigh Long (Tech) 7-5; 6-2
