Harding (24-7, 13-0 GAC) vs. Arkansas-Monticello (12-17, 2-10 GAC)
Location: Monticello, Ark.
When: Thursday
Time: 6 p.m.
Series: HU leads 17-0
Coaches: Harding – Meredith Fear (53-13, 2nd season); Arkansas-Monticello – Peter Cruz
Live Stats/Live Video – links available on HardingSports.com
Harding
- Harding will be playing its final regular season match on Thursday. HU is 8-0 on the road. The Lady Bisons will be looking for their eighth straight win.
- Harding currently sits in first place in the GAC standings and will be the No. 1 seed in the GAC Tournament Nov. 21-23 in Hot Springs, Ark. On Saturday, the Lady Bisons won the conference regular season outright when they defeated Northwestern Oklahoma.
- The Lady Bisons are looking to extend their Great American Conference win streak on Thursday. Currently the GAC streak is at 30 matches, dating back to the 2011 season. HU broke the previous record of 25 against Southwestern Oklahoma on Oct. 26.
- Thursday will be the first of two straight matches against the Cotton Blossoms. UAM sits in the ninth spot in the GAC standings but because Southern Nazarene, who is second, is still in provisional status with the league, the Cotton Blossoms will be the eighth seed in the conference tournament. The Lady Bisons will play UAM in the first round of the GAC Tournament next Thursday in Hot Springs, Ark., at 5 p.m.
- The Lady Bisons are led by senior outside hitter Mollie Arnold who averages 4.01 kills which ranks first in the GAC and 19th in NCAA Division II. She also averages 3.21 digs per set. Junior setter Taryn Eubank ranks second in the GAC in assists with an average of 9.68 assists per set and senior middle blocker Alyssa Short ranks first in the GAC in hitting percentage (.324).
- The Harding defense is led by senior defensive specialist Lisa Copeland who ranks second in the GAC in in digs averages 4.85 per set. Junior middle blocker Liv Savage, reigning GAC Offensive Player of the Week, ranks fourth in the GAC in blocks, averaging 0.96 blocks per set.
- As a team, Harding ranks first in the GAC in assists (12.2 aps), digs (17.4 dps) and opponent hitting percentage (.141). HU ranks second in kills (13.13).
Arkansas-Monticello
- Arkansas-Monticello heads into the contest with a 12-17 overall record and a 2-10 GAC record.
- The Cotton Blossoms have lost their last five matches and their last eight GAC matches.
- Arkansas-Monticello is led by Tori Bozzo who averages 2.76 kills per set and 2.21 digs per set.
- The Cotton Blossoms are coached by Peter Cruz
Series
- Harding leads the series between the two teams 17-0. UAM is in its ninth year of competition.
- When the two teams met in Searcy earlier this season, Harding defeated UAM 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-17).
- Harding is 8-0 in Monticello.
