RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Freshman Tori Johnson stood undefeated in singles play through Henderson State's two matches it played today as HSU fell to conference-foe Arkansas Tech and the University of Nebraska at Kearney, each by a score of 5-2.
 
With Henderson's head coach Brenda Joiner taking a different approach to her team's doubles play, Georjemah Row and Katie Watts saw their first match of the season as partners. Playing in the No. 2 spot, the Row and Watts tandem kicked off the new era with a 7-6 (7-4) victory over Arkansas Tech's Léa Grinberg and Daniela Baez.
 
The Reddies relinquished the doubles point, however, as that was the only doubles duo to see victory, moving the match to singles play. Both true-freshman for Henderson added one to their respective win columns, as both Watts and Tori Johnson downed their opponent in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 10-3, and 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 10-6, respectively.
 
Unfortunately for the Reddies, those were the only wins HSU garnered in singles play as the Golden Suns claimed the overall match, 5-2. Henderson would need to beat the Lopers of Nebraska-Kearney to split the day's competition.
 
A fresh UNK squad got straight to business, claiming all three of the doubles matches. With four singles matches needed in order for HSU to salvage the day, the Reddies saw five of the six matches go all three sets, while only able to come away with two wins.
 
Johnson saw her second singles victory of the day while Row claimed the second Henderson win. Victory was within reach as first-set wins from Franny Nyarko and Watts slipped through the Reddie players' hands as those two wins would have given HSU the overall match. Instead, Nebraska-Kearney triumphed, 5-2.
 
Henderson State (2-5, 0-2) will have a week before its next match when Ouachita Baptist comes over to the Bettye Wallace Tennis Center Friday, Mar. 26 at 3 p.m.
 
RESULTS: Arkansas Tech 5, Henderson State 2
 
Doubles
No. 1 Michelle Khoo/Aastha Dargude (ATU) defeated Mulan Kamoe/Franny Nyarko (HSU) 6-1
No. 2 Georjemah Row/Katie Watts (HSU) defeated Léa Grinberg/Daniela Baez (ATU) 7-6 (7-4)
No. 3 Megan Bell/Izzy Major (ATU) defeated Tirzah Bailey/Vinda Teally (HSU) 6-4
 
Singles
No. 1 Michelle Khoo (ATU) defeated Mulan Kamoe (HSU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 Léa Grinberg (ATU) defeated Georjemah Row (HSU) 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 Aastha Dargude (ATU) defeated Franny Nyarko (HSU) 6-1, 6-4
No. 4 Daniela Baez (ATU) defeated Erica Jaggernauth (HSU) 6-2, 6-0
No. 5 Tori Johnson (HSU) defeated Megan Bell (ATU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 10-6
No. 6 Katie Watts (HSU) defeated Izzy Major (ATU) 6-3, 2-6, 10-3
 
 
RESULTS: Nebraska-Kearney 5, Henderson State 2
 
Doubles
No. 1 Melisa Becerra/Claire Neil (UNK) defeated Mulan Kamoe/Franny Nyarko (HSU) 7-5
No. 2 Myrzaiym Sherikulova/Brooklyn Hunter (UNK) defeated Georjemah Row/Katie Watts (HSU) 6-4
No. 3 Pranathi Gannavaram/Jazmin Zamorano (UNK) defeated Tirzah Bailey/Vinda Teally (HSU) 6-2
 
Singles
No. 1 Melisa Becerra (UNK) defeated Mulan Kamoe (HSU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
No. 2 Georjemah Row (HSU) defeated Myrzaiym Sherikulova (UNK) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
No. 3 Jazmin Zamorano (UNK) defeated Franny Nyarko (HSU) 3-6, 6-4, 10-6
No. 4 Brooklyn Hunter (UNK) defeated Erica Jaggernauth (HSU) 6-2, 6-4
No. 5 Tori Johnson (HSU) defeated Claire Neil (UNK) 6-2, 5-7, 6-0
No. 6 Pranathi Gannavaram (UNK) defeated Katie Watts (HSU) 6-7 (8-10), 7-6 (7-3), 6-4