Box Score

SEARCY – Freshman outside hitter Mollie Arnold had a game-high 14 kills as the Harding volleyball team defeated Arkansas-Monticello 3-0 Tuesday night in Gulf South Conference action. Harding improves to 8-8 overall and 3-1 in the GSC West Division.

The Harding defense held the Cotton Blossoms (1-16, 0-4 GSC West) to 24 kills, forced 23 errors on 104 attempts for a season-low .010 hitting percentage. It was the first time the Lady Bisons have held an opponent to that low of hitting percentage since the 2008 season when Harding held Rhodes to -0.20.

Senior defensive specialist Emily Tate led Harding in digs with 12. Sophomore outside hitter Jordan Smith had a career-high nine digs for Harding. Sophomore outside hitter Bailee Graham also had a career high with five digs.

Junior middle blocker Alex Smith had six of Harding's 11 blocks in the match, which tied her season high.

The Lady Bisons had seven service aces in the match. Tate led Harding with a season-high four aces.

In the first set, Arkansas-Monticello kept it close early on but Harding broke out and went on a 15-3 run to go up 22-10. The Cotton Blossoms tried to rally but it was too late as Harding took set one, 25-13.

Harding jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set but UAM quickly tied it up 5-5 on a four-point run. Four Cotton Blossom errors and three Harding kills allowed the Lady Bisons to take a 14-7 lead. Arkansas-Monticello rallied and pulled within four but Harding went on a 6-2 run to take set two, 25-17.

The Lady Bisons went up 16-6 in the third set and didn't look back as they took the set, 25-12.

Harding will be back in action Thursday as they host Henderson State at 7 p.m., in the Rhodes Field House.