Harding (15-5) vs. Southwest Baptist (11-5), Friday at 11 a.m.
Harding vs. Emporia State (8-7), Friday at 4 p.m.
Harding vs. Northwest Missouri (6-7), Saturday 11 a.m.
Harding vs. No. 4 Central Missouri (17-0), Saturday at 1 p.m.
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Harding
- Harding is coming off a 3-0 Great American Conference win against Henderson State on the road on Tuesday. The Lady Bisons have won 11 of its last 12 matches. HU's loss came against No. 11 Washburn. Harding has won its last seven matches.
- The matches this weekend will be the last non-conference matches for Harding this season. This season, HU is 7-5 in tournaments. The Lady Bisons went 1-3 in the California State-San Bernardino Tournament, 3-1 in the North Alabama Tournament and 3-1 in Arkansas-Fort Smith Tournament.
- Senior outside hitter Mollie Arnold leads the team in kills per set with an average of 4.17. She also averages 3.11 digs per set. Junior setter Taryan Eubank, reigning GAC Setter of the Week, averages 9.75 assists per set and 2.58 digs.
- The Harding defense is led by senior defensive specialist Lisa Copeland who averages 4.99 digs per set. Junior middle blocker Liv Savage averages 1.05 blocks per set.
- Harding is coached by Meredith Fear, who is in her second season as head coach of the Lady Bisons.
Southwest Baptist
- Southwest Baptist is a member of the NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and has an enrollment of 2,570 students.
- The Bearcats have won their last three straight matches and are coming off a 3-0 win over Avila on Tuesday.
- SBU is led by sophomore middle blocker Nikki Madoch who averages 2.62 kills per set. The Bearcats defense is led by sophomore defensive specialist Hannah Blount who averages 4.98 digs per set.
- Southwest Baptist is coached by Kelly Richardson who is in her 6th year.
- Harding leads the series between the two teams 10-1
Emporia State
- Emporia State is a member of the NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and has an enrollment of 3,773 students.
- The Hornets are coming off a 3-1 loss on Tuesday. ESU is 6-2 this season on a neutral floor.
- Emporia State has four players that average two or more kills per set. Junior outside hitter Carly Spicer leads ESU in kills with an average of 2.71 a set. Freshman defensive specialist Kelly Holden leads Emporia State's defense, averaging 4.34 digs per set.
- ESU is coached by Bing Xu who is in his 8th year.
- Emporia State leads the series 5-1.
Northwest Missouri
- Northwest Missouri is a member of the NCAA Division II Mid–America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and has an enrollment of about 6,000 students.
- The Bearcats have lost their last three matches as they head into the tournament with a 6-7 overall record and 4-1 neutral site record.
- Northwest Missouri is led by junior outside hitter Brooke Bartosh who averages 3.02 kills per set. The Bearcats are led on defense by junior defensive specialist Bailey Vance who averages 4.46 digs per set.
- Northwest Missouri is coached by Amy Woerth who is in her 2nd year.
- Northwest Missouri leads the series 3-2.
No. 4 Central Missouri
- Central Missouri is a member of the NCAA Division II Mid–America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and has an enrollment of about 11,800 students.
- The Jennies head into the weekend with a perfect 17-0 record. Central Missouri is ranked fourth in NCAA Division II in the latest AVCA poll. The Jennies also received three first place votes.
- Central Missouri is coming off two home wins against Central Oklahoma (3-0) and Pittsburg State (3-1). UCM has only give up five sets all season. Their closest match was against No. 18 Truman, as Central Missouri won 3-2.
- The Jennies are led by senior outside hitter Taylor Goodness who averages 3.91 kills per set. Central Missouri's defense is led by sophomore defensive specialist Annie Reilly who averages 5.12 digs per set.
- The Jennies rank third in NCAA Division II in kills (15.14 kps), second in hitting percentage (.309) and eighth in assists (13.48 aps).
- Central Missouri is coached by Flip Piontek who is in his fifth season.
- Harding has never beaten Central Missouri as the Jennies hold a 6-0 series lead.
