Tournament Homepage with Live Stats Link
SEARCY – The Harding volleyball team heads to Pittsburg, Kan., to participate in the Pittsburg State Volleyball Classic this weekend. The Lady Bisons will take on Rockhurst and William Jewell on Friday and then face Emporia State and Missouri Southern State on Saturday.
Since joining the NCAA in 1997, HU is 11-4 in season openers. The Lady Bisons also have won the last three openers.
Harding returns nine letterwinners from last year's squad including four starters. Outside hitter Mollie Arnold, who received All-GAC honors last season, returns for her junior season. She led the Lady Bisons in kills per set with an average of 3.98. Arnold also averaged 3.46 digs per set. Other starters include -sophomore setter Taryn Eubank, Junior middle blocker Alyssa Short and senior right-side hitter Bailee Graham.
Harding will open against Rockhurst, who is a NCAA Division II member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, at 12 p.m., on Friday. The Hawks went 16-15 overall last season and 9-9 in conference play. Rockhurst returns sophomore outside hitter Maggie Hummel who finished second on her team in kills averaging 2.20 kills per set. Rockhurst leads the series 3-1.
The Lady Bisons will also take on William Jewell on Friday at 3:30 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the two teams. The Cardinals are also a NCAA Division II member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. William Jewell finished last season with a 16-15 overall record and a 7-11 GLVC record. The Cardinals are led by Jordan Jackson who was second on the team last season in kills with an average of 2.20.
On Saturday, the Lady Bisons will take on Emporia State at 9 a.m. The Hornets are a Division II member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Emporia State finished last season with a 21-10 overall record and 13-5 record in conference play. Junior outside hitter Paige Vanderpool led the Hornets last season averaging 2.77 kills per set. Emporia State leads the series 4-1.
Harding will wrap up the tournament against Missouri Southern State at 2 p.m., on Saturday. The Lions are also a Division II member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. MSSU has nine newcomers this season after going 5-25 overall and 3-15 in the MIAA. Harding leads the series between the two teams 9-4.
The Lady Bisons are one of nine teams in the tournament. Harding usually faces the host team but instead will meet Pittsburg State next weekend in the Southwest Baptist Tournament in Bolivar, Mo.
Check Hardingsports.com for the live stat link.
