Harding upset Henderson State, 5-3, to secure a semifinal berth, while East Central defeated Southern Nazarene, 5-1, in Thursday's Great American Conference Women's Tennis First Round Matches from the Memorial Park Tennis Complex.

HU, ECU ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS IN GAC WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

By: Keith Kelley, GAC Communications

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 BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Harding upset Henderson State, 5-3, to secure a semifinal berth, while East Central defeated Southern Nazarene, 5-1, in Thursday's Great American Conference Women's Tennis First Round Matches from the Memorial Park Tennis Complex.
 
The Bisons battled back-and-forth with the Reddies before ultimately pulling away. Second-team All-GAC Laura Golubic paired with First-team All-GAC Piper Huey to take down the GAC Player of the Year Annie Shannon and Amanda Korinhona, 8-6, in the critical No. 1 doubles match to give the Bisons a 2-1 advantage.
 
In singles play GAC Freshman of the Year Sydnee Parker defeated Harding's Gabriella Alves 6-4, 6-2 to tie up the match. Laura Golubic took down Amanda Korinhona 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 2 singles spot to give the Bisons a 3-2 advantage.
 
After Shannon earned a straight-set victory against Huey, Harding’s fourth point came from Emily Faulkner as she ousted Sara Griffin, 6-4, 6-1. Arielle Butler sealed the match for Harding, as she took down Mariah Bartlett in straight sets to advance the Bisons to Friday’s semifinals where they will face top-seeded Southeastern Oklahoma State.
 
The Tigers, the 2015 GAC Champions, made quick work of the Crimson Storm in rematch of last season’s title match to advance to Friday afternoon's semifinal round against No. 2 Arkansas Tech.
 
The tandem of Becca Richison and Srijita Ghosh blanked the Crimson Storm's Paulina Obreque and Taylor Sullivan at No. 3 doubles to earn the first point for East Central. Second-team All-GAC Anna Garcia partnered with Gloria Mayorga to take down Dragana Samardzic and Judit Mas, 8-3 to give the Tigers their second point. Southern Nazarene's Polina Chala, a First-team All-GAC selection, paired up with Noelia Gomez to rally past East Central's Julia Municoy and Alex Makashov, 8-6 to give Southern Nazarene its lone point of the match.
 
Ghosh completed a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles for East Central and Veronica Mijares scored a 6-0, 6-1 victory in the No. 6 position. Makashov defeated Obreque in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2, to send the Tigers to the semifinals. The Tigers and Golden Suns have met in the three of the previous four GAC Championships. In all three instances, the winner has gone on to win the GAC Championship.