Coach wins I ,OOOth match, 3Jwinning seasons When the Lady Bisons defeated Christian Brothers 9-0 on April 4, there was more to be excited about then a shut our of thei[ opponents. ith the LadyBisons' win, men's and women's tennis coach David Elliott won his 1,000ch career coaching viewry, the foureh collegiate rennis coach to reach that milestone. Minutes later, Elliott won his 1,001st match when the Bisons swept theif nine matches against Christian Brothers. It was Elliott's 1,000ch men's match in his career. Elliott began his coachi ng career at Harding in 1975 and became the women's coach in 1991. After being at Harding for 31 seasons, he was the longest tenured coach in Harding's athletics history and never had a losing season. At 58 years old, Elliott had a combined record of 1,006-375 and led both teams to 10 conference championships. Junior Karina Gomes said she admired Elliott as her coach and was proud of his accomplishment. "I know that only three or four coaches in the whole country could ever have 1,000 wins," Gomes said. SophomoreAliciaWilliams said she believed Elliott's success derived from his commitment to the team and the fact that Elliott is an "excellent men(Qr and coach," "He has [been] with this tennis program for a long time," Williams said. "He has really helped women's tennis evolve h ere a lat." Elliott was a four-year te([er winner on the {ennis team at Harding from 1965- 1969 and was a three-time All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference honoree and won the Berryhi ll Award as Harding's (OP senior male athlete. Ellion graduated in 1969 with a degree in kinesiology and earned his master's in teaching in 1972. The Lady Bisons tennis team not only saw the success of their coach, but three of their women, Williams, Gomes and senior M ilena Chisaca, earned 1st Team AlI~Gulf South Conference honors. Williams became Harding's second straight GSC West Division Freshman of the Year honoree. Williams had an 18~4 singles record with all 22 matches played at No. 1. Her 18 wins tied her with the record for victories at No.1 set by Julie Gill in 1997 and Karla Muellar in SCORECARD Hendrix' ..••.•••••.•••••••••••••••••• W 9-0 Hendrix' •••.•••••.•.••.•..•.••.•.••.• W 9-0 Northeastern State· ••••••••.••••...•••.. L0-9 Henderson State' .••••....•••....•••... W 8-1 Arkansas-Little Rock' . . . • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • •• L0-7 Southwest Baptist· ..•.••.•..•.••.•.••.•. W 6-3 Christian Brothers ' •••• • •••• •••••••..•.. W 9-0 Southern Arkansas ' ••••••••••••• , • •••• •• W 9-0 1999. She also beat the nation's 13th-ranked singles player at the GSC Tournament. "It was an honor to achieve all-conference," Williams said. "But I think the trick was motivation from the great team members we have. Everyone on the team has unique talents they contribute, and we were able to motivate each other." Gomes, a native of Brazil who had been playing tennis every cP-y since she was 13, said she felt lucky to play tennis at Harding and get an education at the same time. The tournament marked Chicasa's third all-conference honor. She led the team with a 20-4 singles record, playing mosrly No.2 and No.3 and held a 10-match winning streak from March 21 to April 18. The Lady Bisons ended their season 21~6 overall and cominued the streak of 16 straight winning seasons. The Lady Bisons completed the year ranked in the NCAA II South Region poll at No. 7 and competed in the NCAA Tournament where they fell in the first round to Valdosta State for the third straight time. -Cynthia Noah and Molly Morris Lyon •••••••••••••••••••.••.•.•..•.•.• W 9-0 Rhodes' •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• W 7-2 Arkansas Tech' .....•••••....•••••..... W 9-0 Row 1: L. Jordan, M. Chisaca, K. Gomes, C. Carui, M. Dujimovic. Row'2: V. Rech, A. Nowlin, C. Kelley, D. Pascuzzi, A. Williams. Arkansas-Pine Bluff' ••••••••••••••••••••• W 9-0 Central Arkansas' • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• L 3-6 LeMoyne-Owen' •••••••.••.••.••.••.••. W 6-0 Louisiana Tech' ••••.•.•.•••••••.....••• W 7-0 Dallas Baptist· •..••..••..••..••..•••..•W 8-1 Arkansas-Pine Bluff' •••••••• ••••••••••••. W 7-0 Arkansas Tech· •••••••••• •••••••••••.•.• W 9-0 Central Arkansas ••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • •• L 1-7 Southern Arkansas' ••••.••••••••••...... W 9-0 Christian Brothers' •..••.••..•..••..••.• W 9-0 LeMoyne-Owen· ••...••...••...••...••. W 9-0 Ouachita Baptist· •.•.••.•.•..•.•.•.••.•. W 9-0 Henderson State' •.•.•.••.•.•.••.•.•.••. W 8-1 Delta State' • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• L 3-6 Valdosta State' •••••••••••••• ••• • ••••••• L0-5 Central Arkansas· ••••••••••••••...•...• W 5-1 Valdosta State ..•..••.•.••.••.•..•..•..• L0-5 women's tennis
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