SEARCY – Junior outside hitter Mollie Arnold had 18 kills and 15 digs to lead the Harding volleyball team over Arkansas Tech 3-2 on Tuesday in Great American Conference action at the Rhodes Field House. It was the sixth straight win by the Lady Bisons who improved to 9-3 overall and 2-0 in the GAC.

After being down 2-1, Harding battled back to win the next two sets for its first win over Arkansas Tech since 2009. The Golden Suns had won the previous five meetings.

Harding is 2-0 in five-set matches. The Lady Bisons defeated Pittsburg State in five sets earlier this season.

Along with Arnold, the Lady Bisons' attack was led by sophomore outside hitter Marindia Turner who had a career-high 14 kills and sophomore middle blocker Liv Savage who finished with 11 kills.

Harding hit .202 in the match and held Arkansas Tech to .168. The Lady Bisons forced 31 Golden Suns' hitting errors and nine service errors.

Junior defensive specialist Lisa Copeland led the HU defense with a career-high 22 digs.

Harding racked up a season-high 13 blocks in the match, led by junior middle blocker Alyssa Short, who tied her season high with seven. Liv Savage also tied a career high with five.                                                                             

Senior setter Amber Schinzing had her fourth double-double of the season with 35 assists and 11 digs.

Arkansas Tech (9-5, 1-1 GAC ) had four players that finished with double-figure kills - Carly Florian led with 19, Sara Motsinger had 16, Katilyn White had 14 and Brittany Ryan had 12.

Harding jumped out to a 15-8 lead in the first set and took the set 25-16. HU hit .410 in the set with only two hitting errors.

Set two was a little different as both teams battled for the lead. Arkansas Tech took a 23-19 lead but the Lady Bisons fought their way back with a 4-0 run to tie the set at 23. The two teams exchanged the next points but a HU attack error and an ATU kill gave the Golden Suns the set which tied the match 1-1.

Set three was all Arkansas Tech as they took a commanding 15-7 lead. The Lady Bisons pulled within three but the Golden Suns put the set out of reach 25-18.

Knowing they had to win the fourth set, Harding battled throughout and took a 21-19 lead. ATU fought back and led 24-23. Arkansas Tech thought they won the match when two ATU players blocked a Liv Savage attack. The Golden Suns claimed the block touched a HU player but the officials saw it differently, awarding the point to the Lady Bisons. A service ace by Alyssa Short gave Harding the set 26-24.

Harding had three attack errors to open up the fifth set but the Lady Bisons battled back on a 7-2 run to tie the set at seven. The Lady Bisons mustered up another rally to take a 14-11 lead. A block by senior right-side hitter Bailee Graham and Alyssa Short gave the Lady Bisons the win.

Harding will begin a four-game road trip Thursday as they travel to Ouachita Baptist in GAC action at 7 p.m.