UAFS opened its nonconference tennis match against in-state rival Harding University on Wednesday by winning two of its three doubles matches, but the Lions couldn’t sustain that momentum.
            The Bison rallied and won four of the six singles matches to beat the Lions 5-4 at Fort Smith Athletic Club. UAFS settled for a split in the home-and-home series with Harding, which lost to UAFS 5-4 in Searcy, Ark., on Sept. 25.
            The Lions’ first win came at No. 2 doubles, where freshman Clay Sandefur teamed up with freshman Matt Tabler to beat Helio Hashimoto and Adam Edwards 8-2. Freshman Chris Ramirez teamed up with Jorge Salazar at No. 1 doubles to beat Kittibodee Singnil and Jon Mark Rowden in a pro-set thriller 9-8.
            In singles play, Ramirez had a great win over Rowden in a three-set thriller 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Salazar posted the only other singles win, beating Alex Ford in straight sets 6-1, 6-0.
            The Lions (8-10) and Lady Lions will resume play on Saturday, when they host their last home match of the season against East Central University.
 
 
COLLEGE TENNIS
MEN
HARDING 5, UAFS 4
Wednesday
At Fort Smith Athletic Club
Doubles
Chris Ramirez/Jorge Salazar, UAFS, def. Kittibodee Singnil/Jon Mark Rowden, Harding, 9-8
Matt Tabler/Clay Sandefur, UAFS, def. Helio Hashimoto/Adam Edwards, Harding, 8-2
Matheus Mosquera-Carrascosa/Caleb McReynolds, Harding, def. Sean Manning/Caleb Gunsch, UAFS, 8-3
Singles
Singnil, Harding, def. Manning, UAFS, 6-1, 6-1
Ramirez, UAFS, def. Rowden, Harding, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Salazar, UAFS, def. Alex Ford, Harding, 6-1, 6-0
Hashimoto, Harding, def. Tabler, UAFS, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4
McReynolds, Harding, def. Sandefur, UAFS, 6-1, 6-2
Edwards, Harding, def. Pedro Carvalho, UAFS, 6-4, 7-6