SEARCY – The Harding volleyball team will travel to Magnolia, Ark., on Tuesday to face Southern Arkansas in Great American Conference action at 7 p.m. The Lady Bisons head into the match with a 15-6 overall record and an 8-2 GAC record.
HARDING
Harding kicked off a four match road trip last Thursday as they traveled to Lyon College. The Lady Bisons walked away with a 3-0 win in Batesville, Ark. Harding then traveled to Alva, Okla., to face Northwestern Oklahoma last Saturday in GAC action. The Lady Bisons were led by senior outside hitter Marindia Turner who captured a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs. Senior setter Taryn Eubank also had a double-double with 50 assists and a season-high 21 digs.
The Lady Bisons have already sealed a spot in the GAC Tournament held in Hot Springs, Ark., Nov. 13-15. Harding will be fighting for what seed they will be the rest of the regular season. The Lady Bisons are currently in second place in the GAC standings.
Harding has won its last four matches and its last four GAC matches. The Lady Bisons are 7-2 on the road this season. Harding's road losses were GAC matches and came at Southeastern Oklahoma (3-1) and at Arkansas Tech (3-2).
The Lady Bisons are led on the season by Turner who averages 3.06 kills which ranks eighth in the GAC. Harding's offense is quarterbacked by Eubank who leads the GAC in assists, averaging 10.25 per set.
Sophomore middle blocker Sara Smith leads the GAC in hitting with a .340 percentage. Senior middle blocker Liv Savage ranks second in the GAC in blocks, averaging 1.08 per set. She also leads the GAC in service aces with a 0.51 per set average and ranks ninth in the GAC in kills with a 2.95 average.
The Lady Bisons defense is led by sophomore defensive specialist Anna Leigh Cargile who averages 4.27 digs per set, ranking her seventh in the conference.
As a team, Harding ranks first in the GAC in digs (18.26 per set). The Lady Bisons rank second in hitting percentage (.221), assists (12.46 per set), kills (13.59 per set) and service aces (1.61).
Harding is coached by Meredith Fear who is in her third season at the helm.
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
Southern Arkansas is located in Magnolia, Ark., and has an enrollment of 3,404.
The Lady Muleriders head into the match with a 9-16 overall record and a 5-6 GAC record. Southern Arkansas is currently in seventh place in the GAC standings.
The Lady Muleriders have lost their last three conference matches and are 5-4 at home this season. Southern Arkansas is coming off a 3-1 loss to Southern Nazarene at home last Friday in GAC action. Senior outside hitter Amanda Monge led the Lady Muleriders with 15 kills and hit .419 in the match.
Southern Arknasas is led on the season by Monge who averages 3.29 kills per set which ranks fourth in the GAC. Sophomore defensive specialist Hannah Rice leads the defense, averaging 4.80 digs per set ranking her third in the GAC.
Southern Arkansas is coached by Steven Gream who is in his fifth season as head coach.
SERIES
Harding leads the series between the two teams 41-27.
Since joining the NCAA In 1997, the Lady Bisons are 13-2 in Magnolia.
Harding has won the last 21 matches which includes a 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 27-25) win earlier this season in Searcy. The Lady Bisons were led in the match by Taryn Eubank who had 10 kills, 29 assists and nine digs. Marindia Turner also had 10 kills as Harding hit .236 in the match. Southern Arkansas had 10 blocks and seven service aces in the match. The Lady Muleriders were led by sophomore middle blocker Logan Tolbert who had 11 kills.
