Box Score
Photo Gallery
Harding: Mollie Arnold – 18 kills, 16 digs and four aces
Harding: Liv Savage – 8 blocks
Harding: Taryn Eubank – 41 assists and 10 digs
Harding: Bianca Trevino – career-high 14 digs
Southeastern Oklahoma: Emily Gentle 13 kills and 12 digs
SEARCY – Senior outside hitter Mollie Arnold had 18 kills and a team-high 16 digs as the Harding volleyball team defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State 3-1 (25-14, 25-23, 21-25 and 25-12) on Saturday in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons improved to 14-5 overall and remain perfect in GAC play with a 5-0 record.
It was HU's sixth straight win. It was also Harding's 21st straight GAC win and 21st straight home win.
Harding jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first set on three kills by Arnold. Southeastern Oklahoma (7-7, 2-3 GAC) cut the HU lead to four, 12-8, on a 5-2 run. The Lady Bisons put the set away on an 8-0 run as HU forced four SOSU attack errors. Harding won the set 25-14. Junior middle blocker Liv Savage had two solo blocks in the set as she finished with a match-high eight blocks.
The Savage Storm took a 4-0 lead to open the second set on two service aces by sophomore outside hitter Megan Kunkel. Harding battled back as they went on a 9-2 run to take an 11-9. During that run, HU forced five straight Savage Storm attack errors. Southeastern Oklahoma cut the Harding lead to two, 22-20, as they forced three HU errors. Another HU error pulled SOSU within one, 24-23, but an attack error by the Savage Storm gave the Lady Bisons the second set, 25-23.
HU led 12-9 in the third set until back-to-back kills by junior outside hitter Emily Gentle started a 5-0 Savage Storm run. HU pulled within one, 15-14, on back-to-back kills by Arnold. SOSU went on a 5-1 run to take a 22-17 lead. Harding battled back to cut the led to three at set point but a kill by Kunkel gave Southeastern Oklahoma the set, 25-21. It was the first set the Lady Bisons have given up in the last five matches.
The fourth set was all Harding as HU took a 12-6 led to open the set. Arnold had three-straight kills that started an 11-3 run that gave the Lady Bisons a commanding 24-11 lead. A kill by junior outside hitter Marindia Turner gave HU the victory.
Arnold's double-double was her 10th this season and the 62nd in her career. She also tied a career-high with four service aces. Junior setter Taryn Eubank also had a double-double with 41 assists and 10 digs. It was her 12th career double-double. Redshirt freshman defensive specialist Bianca Trevino had a career-high 14 digs.
Southeastern Oklahoma was led by Gentle who had 13 kills and 12 digs.
Harding will be back in action on Tuesday as they travel to Arkadelphia, Ark., to face Henderson State at 7 p.m., in GAC action.
