Box Score

SEARCY – With the season on the line, senior Manuela Nesheva hit a rocket to the fall right corner to give the Harding volleyball team a 3-2 victory over Valdosta State in the opening round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament on Friday.  Harding improved to 28-6 on the season and will face West Alabama in the semifinals at 2:30 p.m., on Saturday.

Harding took a 14-13 lead late in the fifth set but Valdosta State quickly battled back to take a 16-15 lead. A solo block by freshman right-side hitter Bailee Graham tied the set at 16-16. The Lady Bisons took a one-point lead on a Nesheva kill but a Harding error allowed the Lady Blazers to tie the set again. A blocking error by Valdosta put the Lady Bisons back on top 18-17 and set up Nesheva's match-winning kill. The fifth set was tied 15 times with five lead changes.

Three Lady Bisons finished with three players with double-figure kills.  Leading the way was Nesheva, who had 23 kills and 11 digs to capture her eleventh double-double on the season. The Lady Bisons looked to freshman outside hitter Reagan Smith in pivotal moments in the match as she ended with a career-high 15 kills. Senior Samantha Anderson was the other Lady Bison with 11 kills. Harding had a season-high 65 kills in the match.

Harding's defense stepped up in the match with five players with 10 or more digs. Leading the way was junior Emily Tate with 20 digs. Senior Sarah Phipps had 17 digs, and sophomore Amber Parker had 10 digs.

Freshman setter Amber Schinzing controlled the Harding offense on the night with a career-high 48 assists and also added 10 digs. It was the third time in her career she has had a double-double.

Valdosta State was led by Ruthie King who had 19 kills and 17 digs. Irene Hannan added 18 kills and 17 digs for Valdosta State.