GAC Tournament Bracket

SEARCY – The Harding volleyball team defeated Arkansas-Monticello 3-0 on Thursday in Great American Conference action to conclude their first undefeated GAC season (14-0). The Lady Bisons will host the GAC Tournament on Nov. 15-17 and will play No. 8 seed Southeastern Oklahoma State on Thursday at 5 p.m., in the first round.

After the match, Harding honored the 2012 volleyball seniors, Amber Schinzing and Bailee Graham, for their contribution to the HU volleyball program.

It is the third time in program history that Harding had gone undefeated in conference play. The two previous times were in 2006 (12-0) and 2004 (11-0). Harding head coach Meredith Fear was a member of both of those teams.

It was the second time since joining the NCAA in 1997 that Harding has gone undefeated at home during the regular season (10-0). The last time was in 2004 (11-0).

Harding took the first two sets with ease, 25-14 and 25-13. Arkansas-Monticello battled back in the third to pull within two at 16-14 but Harding went on an 8-2 run to take the set 25-17.

The Lady Bisons hit a season-high .413 in the match. HU had 43 kills on 92 attempts with a season-low five errors.  Harding's hitting percentage broke the previous GAC record in a conference match, which HU set in its last match against Northwestern Oklahoma State (.410).

Harding was led by junior outside hitter Mollie Arnold who hit .500 and had 11 kills on 22 attempts with no hitting errors.

Senior right-side hitter Bailee Graham had 11 kills and hit .476.

Harding had five service aces in the match. Senior setter Amber Schinzing led with three.

The Lady Bisons forced 17 hitting errors and five service errors and held UAM to hitting .120.

Arkansas-Monticello (11-23, 4-10 GAC) was led by sophomore middle blocker Christina Rini who had eight kills. Senior outside hitter Amy Kleypas had a match-high 14 digs. The Cotton Blossoms will be the No. 7 seed in the tournament and will play No. 2 seed Arkansas Tech next Thursday at 2:30 p.m.