Box Score

WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The Harding volleyball team squeezed by Southwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday as they defeated the Bulldogs 3-2 in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons improved to 15-4 on the season and 6-1 in the GAC.

Harding jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the match before SWOSU (5-8, 3-4 GAC) battled back to tie the match and force a fifth set. The Lady BIsons took a 12-7 lead before the Bulldogs once again battled back on a 6-1 run on five kills to tie the set at 13. The two teams exchanged points until a HU kill by freshman outside hitter Kalyn Helton and a block gave the Lady Bisons the win.

HU forced 31 hitting errors and had 10 team blocks in the match. At the net, sophomore middle blocker Alyssa Short captured a career high with nine blocks.

Southwestern Oklahoma State had 103 digs and 10 service aces in the match. Sladjana Smiljanic led the Bulldogs with a match-high 31 digs. Adriana Rodriguez finished with 21.

The Lady Bisons had 56 kills, 17 errors on 193 attempts for a match-high .202 hitting percentage. Sophomore outside hitter Mollie Arnold led HU with 17 kills and had 16 digs for her third consecutive double-double.

The Harding defense had 91 digs in the match led by sophomore defensive specialist Weslynn Williams who had a career-high 30 digs. Senior defensive specialist Amber Parker finished with 19 digs.

The Bulldogs were led by LaKendra Sanders who had 31 kills, three errors on 55 attempts for a match-high .505 hitting percentage.

Harding will be back in action on Friday as they travel to Edmond, Okla., to face Central Oklahoma in non-conference action at 7 p.m.