Harding vs. Northwest Missouri
Harding: Mollie Arnold – 13 kills and 10 digs
Harding: Lisa Copeland – 18 digs
Harding: season-high 110 digs
Northwest Missouri: Abby Graves – 12 kills

Harding vs. No. 4 Central Missouri
Harding: Mollie Arnold – 14 kills and 16 digs
Harding: Marindia Turner – 12 kills
Central Missouri: Carly Sojka – 17 kills and 10 digs
Central Missouri: Taylor Goodness – 17 kills

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Harding volleyball team finished the Missouri Southern State Tournament defeating Northwest Missouri 3-0 but fell to No. 4 Central Missouri 3-2 on Saturday. The Lady Bisons move to 17-7 overall.

It was the second time this season Harding has taking a ranked team to five sets. The Lady Bisons fell to No. 11 Washburn 3-2 earlier this season.

In the first match against Northwest Missouri, HU jumped out to a 16-9 lead. The Lady Bisons went on a 7-1 run to close the first set as HU won 25-15. Junior middle blocker Liv Savage had four kills during the run.

The second set was close until the Lady Bisons took a 14-8 lead on a 4-0 run as HU forced three straight attack errors. Northwest Missouri battled back and cut the Harding lead to one 18-17. HU went on a 4-1 run to get the set victory on a kill by senior outside hitter Mollie Arnold.

The Lady Bisons took a 9-4 lead in the third set but the Bearcats battled their way back into the set and took a 25-24 lead. After an HU timeout, the Lady Bisons went on a 3-0 run for the victory.

Arnold led HU with 13 kills and 10 digs. Senior defensive specialist Lisa Copeland led the Harding defense with 18 digs. Savage had four blocks for Harding.

Northwest Missouri (8-9) was led by Abby Graves who had 12 kills.

Central Missouri took the first set in match two 25-17. Harding took a 16-9 lead in the second set on a 4-1 run on two kills by junior outside hitter Marindia Turner. HU didn't allow the Jennies to get any closer than four the rest of the set as HU won 25-19.

The Lady Bisons fell behind in the third set 10-5 but battled back on five straight points to tie the set at 10. HU kept its rally going as they took a 16-12 lead on a 6-1 run on three Turner kills. With the set tied at 22, Turner had two kills and UCM had an attack error to give HU the 2-1 match lead. Harding forced the Jennies to nine attack errors in the set.

Central Missouri took the fourth set 25-18 as they forced seven HU attack errors in the set.

Harding kept the fifth set close as UCM led 12-11. Central Missouri scored the next three points to take the set and match.

Before Saturday, UCM (20-0) had only been taking to five sets one time and has only given up five total sets all season.

Harding was led by Arnold who had 14 kills and a team-high 16 digs. Turner had 12 kills and senior middle blocker Alyssa Short had 10 kills.

Central Missouri was led by Carly Sojka and Taylor Goodness who each had 17 kills.

Harding will have the week off before hosting Arkansas-Monticello on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m., at the Rhodes Field House in Great American Conference action.