ROLLA, Mo. – The Harding volleyball team fell to Truman State 3-0 (25-23, 25-9, 25-23) but bounced back to beat Missouri S&T 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 16-14) in non-conference action on Saturday. The Lady Bisons move to 12-6 overall.
Harding vs. Truman State
Harding was led by senior middle blocker Liv Savage who had nine kills and four blocks. Senior setter Taryn Eubank captured a double-double with 24 assists and 11 digs. Sophomore defensive specialist Anna Leigh Cargile led the defense with 19 digs.
Truman State (16-2) was led by Kayla Bastian who had 12 kills and a match-high 23 digs. Abby Moser had 21 digs and Meghan Zimmerman had 1 digs.
Trailing 14-12, Truman State went on a 7-1 run to take a 19-15 lead in the first set. Harding battled back on a 3-0 run to pull within one 19-18. The Bulldogs had set point (24-21) but the Lady Bisons had a kill and a block to cut the lead to one. A kill by Bastian gave Truman State the win.
Truman State took a 13-4 lead in the second set as they only allowed Harding to score five more points as the Bulldogs won 25-9.
The third set was much like the first set. Truman State jumped out to a 5-1 lead but the Lady Bisons came back to take an 11-10 lead on a 10-5 run. Harding had seven kills during the run. The Bulldogs then went on a 4-0 run to lead 14-11. The Lady Bisons again battled back to tie the set at 16 on two kills by Savage. Trailing 23-20, Harding went on a 3-0 run on two kills to tie the set at 23. Truman State took the set and the match on a kill and a block.
Harding at Missouri S&T
Harding was led by junior outside hitter Erica Heim who had 17 kills and 19 digs for her third career double-double. Senior outside hitter Marindia Turner had 15 kills and seven digs. Junior outside hitter Molly Howard tied a season-high with 12 kills for Harding. Senior setter Taryn Eubank captured a double-double with a season-high 57 assists and a season-high 20 digs. Sophomore defensive specialist Anna Leigh Cargile had 23 digs for the Lady Bisons.
Missouri S&T (10-9) was led by Krista Haslag who had 18 kills. Gracey Moon had 11 digs and a match-high seven blocks.
Trailing 17-11, Harding went on a 5-1 run to pull within one point in the first set. Missouri S&T then went on a 4-1 to lead 22-18. The Lady Bisons got within three, 24-21, but a Harding attack error gave the Miners the win.
With the second set tied at 20, the Lady Bisons forced two attack errors and had three kills to win the second set 25-23.
The third set was close in the first 10 points until Missouri S&T broke away with a 5-1 run. Harding didn't get any closer than two the rest of the way as the Miners took a 2-1 match lead after the set three win.
Tied 11-11 in the fourth set, the Lady Bisons scored three straight points on two kills and a block to take a 14-11 lead. Harding held on to tie the match at two apiece.
Harding jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the fifth set but Missouri S&T battled backed to tie the set at 14 on an 8-2 run. The Miners had six kills during the run. The Lady Bisons had back-to-back kills to win the set the match.
Harding will be back in action on Tuesday as they host Arkansas-Monticello in Great American Conference at the Rhodes Field House at 7 p.m. on Pink Night.
