306 · Tennis Netters Overcome Youth To Sweep Conference Youth was the watchword for the 1981 Bison tennis team. With only three let· termen returning from the 1980 squad that finished third in the Arkansas Inter· collegiate Conference, Coach David Elliott had to rely on two junior college transfers and three freshmen to build a team literally from scratch. What he did not expect was the con· tinued improvement of each player throughout the season. Developing from the number one player to number six, the Bisons swept through the AIC undefeated and stood atop the con· ference standings for the championship trophy. The season began in early March, as the Bisons hosted College of the Ozarks in their first match. Competing in eight singles and fOUf doubles matches, the Bisons made clean sweep of the Scots enroute to a 12·0 victory. Sophomore David Redding led the Bisons as he took the number one singles match while he and freshman Nat Malone took the number one doubles match. Florida became the home for the Bisons during spring break as they won five matches and lost one to competi· tion. Victories over such teams as Southwestern of Memphis, Mobile Col· lege (Alabama), Forest Park Community College (Missouri), Okaloosa·Walton Junior College and Pensacola Junior College served as morale boosters and pushed the Bison spirits high. Even a loss to the University of Southern Alabama at Mobile, an NCAA Division I school, did not dampen the success of the trip. "It was a good trip for us for a number of reasons," Coach Elliott said. "We got to play some real fine teams and I think our boys gained a whole lot of 1981 Ale TENNIS RESULTS HARDINGCJNIVERSITY 7·0 University of Central Arkansas 6·1 Hendrix College 5·2 Southern Arkansas University 4·3 Arkansas Tech University 3·4 College of the Ozarks 2·5 University of Arkansas·Monticelio 1·6 Ouachita Baptist University 0·7 confidence in the process. That could be real important for us," The confidence continued to grow as the Black and Gold netters continually knocked off opponent after opponent. With an umblemished record in the con· ference ' the Bisons entered the NAJA District 17 Championships as the favorites. They performed their role in winning the district and by virtue of the win were the District 17 representatives to the tournament. Hard times met the Bisons as they failed to advance past round three at the nationals. Playing at the Rock Hills Coun· try Club in Kansas City, Missouri , Harding's Rex Fowler was the only player to advance in the singles competition past the first round. Redding dropped a hard loss to Chris Meyer of Landers College (South Carolina), 7·5, 6·3. Fowler won his number two match, dropping Mike Haxton of Rogers Williams College (Rhode Island) 6·3, 6·3. Others who lost in the first round were Nat Malone, at number three and Keith Mays. Tommy Tabor and Richard Branam drew first byes but lost in the second round as did Fowler. The highest place the Bisons enjoyed was a third round match loss by Redding·Malone in the number one doubles position. Redding was awarded both AII·AIC and AII·NAIA District 17 recognition following the season. Fowler was recognized as AII·NAIA District 17, as was Malone. Malone, Fowler and Eric Dawkins were selected as Honorable Mention in the conference while Dawkins and Branam were Honorable Mention honorees in District 17. Elliott also won both AIC and NAIA District 17 Coach of the year. ~
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