BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Harding volleyball team won both their matches on Saturday in the final round of the Southwest Baptist Tournament. The Lady Bisons went 3-1 in the tournament and improve to 6-3 on the season.

Harding defeated Saint Leo (5-2) in the first match 3-0. The Lady Bisons battled back after being down 2-1 against Pittsburg State before winning the next two sets to take a 3-2 win and give Pitts State their first loss of the season (7-1).

Senior setter Amber Schinzing led the HU offense on the day with a total of 86 assists, including a season-high 59 assists against Pittsburg State.

The Harding offense came to play on Saturday as they hit for a combined .235 hitting percentage. The Lady Bisons were led by junior outside hitter Mollie Arnold who had 27 kills on the day, nine against Saint Leo and 18 against Pittsburg State.

In the first match against Saint Leo, the two teams were tied 6-6 in the first set until HU went on a 5-1 run on three kills, two by senior right-side hitter Bailee Graham. The Lady Bisons had control after that, taking the set 25-18. In the second set, Harding jumped out to a commanding 14-8 lead and only allowed the Lions to score three more points before take the set, 25-11. Both teams exchanged points until midway through the third set, when Harding took an 18-14 lead on two kills by Arnold. Saint Leo rallied and pulled within one until two straight kills by Harding took the set 25-20.

Harding had to battle for the win in the final match of the tournament. Harding carried their momentum into the first set as they took a 1-0 lead with a 25-20 victory. The Gorillas took a 19-13 lead in the second set on a 5-0 run. The Lady Bisons tried to rally but didn't get any closer than three as Pitts State finished the set on a 4-2 run. Harding wasn't going to allow the Gorillas to take the match without a battle. Up 13-12, HU went on a 6-2 run by three-straight kills by senior right-side hitter Bailee Graham. Two kills by the Lady Bisons gave them the set and evened the match at two apiece. Harding carried their momentum into the deciding fifth set, jumping out to a 9-4 lead as they forced three attack errors. The Gorillas tried to rally but fell short as HU took the set 15-11 on kills by sophomore middle blocker Liv Savage and freshman Molly May Howard.  

Harding had two players that finished with a season-high in kills against Pittsburg State. Junior middle blocker Alyssa Short had 15 and senior right-side hitter Bailee Graham had 13.

The Lady Bisons will open Great American Conference play on the road as they travel to Arkadelphia, Ark., to face Henderson State on Tuesday at 7 p.m.