Box Score

SEARCY – Despite winning the first two sets, the Harding volleyball team fell to Arkansas Tech 3-2 in Great American Conference action on Thursday night in front of a season-high crowd of 1,030. The Lady Bisons fell to 20-7 on the season and 11-3 in the GAC.

Arkansas Tech remains in first place in the GAC, and Harding is three matches behind in second. Both teams have sealed a spot in the conference tournament.

The Lady Bisons won the first two sets to go up 2-0. The Golden Suns (30-3, 14-0 GAC) took advantage of HU's errors and went on a 7-0 run to take a 10-5 lead in the third set. The Lady Bisons battled back to tie the set at 15 on a kill by senior middle blocker Alex Smith. Neither team broke the set open. A Golden Suns' service ace and a HU service error gave ATU the set 25-23.

Arkansas Tech took a 7-0 lead in set four and didn't look back. Harding didn't get any closer than four points as the Golden Suns took the set 25-14.

In the deciding set, the Lady Bisons took a 13-10 lead but four errors by HU allowed Arkansas Tech to rally. The Golden Suns won six of the last seven points to take the set 16-14.

Harding had 60 kills, 18 errors on 190 attempts for a .221 hitting percentage. Arkansas Tech had 65 kills, 22 errors on 196 attempts for a .219 hitting percentage. It was only the second time this season the Lady Bisons out-hit their opponent and lost.

Harding had three players finish in double-figure scoring. Sophomore outside hitter Mollie Arnold led the Lady Bisons with 17 kills. Freshman outside hitter Kalyn Helton ended with 14 and sophomore middle blocker Alyssa Short had 10. Short led HU in hitting with a match-high .400 hitting percentage.

The Lady Bisons had 89 digs in the match. Sophomore defensive specialist Weslynn Williams led HU with 21. Senior defensive specialist Amber Parker and Arnold each had 18. Junior setter Amber Schinzing finished with 12 digs and added a team-high 29 assists.

Arnold and Schinzing both finished with a double-double in the match. It was Arnold's 17th of the season and Schinzing's second.

Arkansas Tech was led by Sara Motsinger who had 18 kills. Laura Farney was the other Golden Sun in double-figures with 15.

ATU had 95 digs in the match as two Golden Suns ended with 20 or more. Brennae Benda led Arkansas Tech with 27 and Amber Cerrillos had 20. Taylor Brown ended with 17, Marcela Mascarenhas had 14 and Farney captured a double-double with 11.

Arkansas Tech had nine service aces in the match. Cerrillos and Motsinger each led with three.

Harding led at the net with seven total blocks. Short led the Lady Bisons with five.

HU will be back in action next Tuesday (Nov. 1) as they play their final non-conference match as they travel to Memphis to take on Christian Brothers at 7 p.m.