MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Harding volleyball team came out on top in a hard fought 3-2 (25-27, 25-21, 25-13, 25-23, 15-10) Great American Conference win at Southern Arkansas on Tuesday. The Lady Bisons improve to 16-6 overall and 9-2 in the GAC.
With the win, Harding stayed in second place in the GAC standings. 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.
Harding had 61 kills in the match for the third time this season. The Lady Bisons were led by senior outside hitter Marindia Turner and junior outside hitter Molly Howard who both had 15 kills. Turner captured her eighth double-double of the season adding 11 digs. Senior middle blocker Liv Savage was the other Harding play in double figure kills with 11. Sophomore middle blocker Sara Smith had a career-high six blocks in the match.
Senior setter Taryn Eubank captured her 13th double-double of the season with 46 assists and 10 digs for the Lady Bisons. Junior outside hitter Erica Heim and sophomore defensive specialist Anna Leigh Cargile combined for 46 of Harding's 85 digs in the match. Heim had a career-high 24 digs and Cargile had 22.
Southern Arkansas (9-17, 5-7 GAC) was led by Hailey McNee who had 20 kills and 20 digs. Hannah Rice had a match-high 30 digs for the Lady Muleriders.
Harding trailed 17-15 in the middle of set one before going on a 7-2 run to take a 22-19 lead. The Lady Bisons had set point, 24-22 but Southern Arkansas battled back to tie the set at 25 and then scored the next two points to win the set 27-25.
Harding had a 13-10 lead in the second set before Southern Arkansas went on a 9-1 to take a 19-14 lead. The Lady Bisons mounted a comeback as they only allowed the Muleriders to score two more points in the set on an 11-2 run. Harding had six kills and forced three attack errors during the run.
Southern Arkansas took a 14-8 lead in the third set on seven kills. Harding didn't get any closer than four the rest of the set as the Lady Muleriders closed the set on a 9-1 run.
Harding jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the fourth set before Southern Arkansas pulled within two 16-14. The Lady Bisons then went on an 8-3 run to lead 24-18. The Lady Muleriders went on a 5-0 run with Harding at set point but a kill by Molly Howard gave the Lady Bisons the fourth set and forced a fifth set.
With the set tied at five, Harding went on an 8-2 run on five kills to lead 13-7. A Southern Arkansas ball handling error and a Harding block gave the Lady Bisons the win.
Harding will wrap up a four match road trip on Thursday as they travel to Arkadelphia, Ark., to face Henderson State at 7 p.m.
