Harding: Alyssa Short – 9 kills
Harding: Mollie Arnold – 9 kills
Harding: Lisa Copeland – 18 digs
Ouachita Baptist: Abby Pickett – 5 kills

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Harding volleyball team picked up its fifth straight win on Thursday as they defeated Ouachita Baptist 3-0 (25-15, 25-14 and 25-15) in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons improved to 22-7 overall and 11-0 in the GAC.

Harding remains in sole possession of first place in the GAC standings with three regular season matches remaining. The top eight teams in the GAC make the conference tournament held in Hot Springs, Ark., on Nov. 21-23.

The Lady Bisons extended their conference win streak to 28 matches after the win, which dates back to the 2011 season.

HU jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the first set but Ouachita Baptist quickly cut the lead to two on a 4-0 run as they forced three Harding errors. Harding extended its lead to 19-11 on an 8-2 run led by junior middle blocker Liv savage who had three kills. OBU tried to mount a comeback but the Lady Bisons went on a 4-0 run to close the set as HU won 25-15.

Harding took an 18-7 lead in the second set as HU forced six Tiger errors. Ouachita Baptist cut the HU lead to six on a 5-0 run (18-12) on two service aces by Jayme Shell. The Lady Bisons only allowed the Tigers to score two more points as HU won 25-14.

The third set was all HU as the Lady Bisons took a 14-2 lead as Harding forced six more OBU errors. Harding didn't allow Ouachita Baptist to get any closer than eight the rest of the way as HU won 25-15. Ouachita Baptist had eight hitting errors in the set.

Senior middle blocker Alyssa Short had nine kills with zero errors and finished with a .818 hitting percentage. Senior defensive specialist Lisa Copeland had 18 digs.

Ouachita Baptist (12-9, 6-4) was led by Abby Pickett who had five kills. Chelsey Hess led the OBU defense with 11 digs.

It was the first time Harding has beating Ouachita Baptist in straight sets in Arkadelphia since 2008.

The Lady Bisons will be back in action on Tuesday as they host Arkansas Tech at 7 p.m., in the Rhodes Field House.