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Harding: Mollie Arnold – 20 kills and hit for a .472 hitting percentage
Harding: Lisa Copeland – 20 digs
Henderson State: Cherise Austin – five blocks

SEARCY – The Harding volleyball team opened Great American Conference play with a 3-0 win over Henderson State on Tuesday. The Lady Bisons improved to 6-4 on the season and 1-0 in the GAC.

Harding is now 15-2 in home openers since joining the NCAA in 1997.

The Lady Bisons were led by senior outside hitter Mollie Arnold who had 20 kills and had a season-high .472 hitting percentage. It was the eighth time this season Arnold has posted 20 or more kills performance.

Senior defensive specialist Lisa Copeland had 20 digs to lead the HU defense. It was the sixth time this season she has had 20 or more digs in a match.

As a team, Harding hit for a season-high .320 hitting percentage. Since 2000, the Lady Bisons are 97-2 when they hit over .300.

Henderson State (1-7, 0-1 GAC) was led by senior outside hitter Cheyenne Derr who had seven kills. The Lady Reddies had six blocks in the match, led by junior middle blocker Cherise Austin who had five.

Harding got off to a slow start in the first set as Derr had kill for HSU to tie the set 13-13. The Lady Bisons forced three-straight attack errors to take a 16-13 lead. The Lady Bisons didn't look back and took set one 25-17.

In the second set, Harding jumped out to an 8-3 lead but HSU battled back to get with two (14-12) on a kill by junior setter Taylor Thompson. The Lady Bisons took the next four of five points to take a 19-16 lead. The Lady Reddies tied the set at 23 on three-straight service aces by Austin. A kill by junior setter Taryn Eubank put HU up by one and then a HSU error gave Harding set two.

Set three was all Harding. The Lady Bisons had 17 kills in the set as they won 25-16.

Harding will be back in action this weekend as they participate in the Arkansas-Fort Smith Tournament. The Lady Bisons will face Dallas Baptist and Arkansas-Fort Smith on Friday and then wrap up the tournament on Saturday as they face No. 11 Washburn and Texas Woman's.