SEARCY – The Harding volleyball team fell to Arkansas Tech 3-2 (19-25, 25-14, 25-23, 21-25, 15-9) on Tuesday in Great American Conference action at the Rhodes Field House. The Lady Bisons fall to 17-7 overall and 9-3 in the GAC.
The loss snapped a 29 match home winning streak for Harding that dated back to 2011. It is the second longest streak in the Lady Bisons history. Harding won 36 home matches from 2003-05. It also snapped a six match winning streak.
The Lady Bisons have already sealed a spot in the GAC Tournament held in Hot Springs, Ark., Nov. 13-15. Harding in currently tied for second in the GAC standings with Southern Nazarene. The Lady Bisons have two more conference matches remaining. Harding will host Southwestern Oklahoma on Saturday at 11 a.m. before traveling to Ouachita Baptist on Nov. 6.
Harding was led by senior outside hitter Marindia Turner who captured her 13th career double-double with 16 kills and 17 digs. Junior outside hitter Erica Heim had 12 kills and senior middle blocker Liv Savage captured her first career double-double with 11 kills and a career-high 12 blocks. Senior setter Taryn Eubank also had a double-double with 48 assists and 12 digs. It was her 33rd career double-double. Sophomore defensive specialist Anna Leigh Cargile had 19 digs.
Harding had a season-high 16 blocks. Along with Savage's 12, the Lady Bisons had two other players with six blocks – Eubank and Heim.
Arkansas Tech (23-5, 12-1 GAC) wrapped up the regular season championship with the win and will be the No. 1 seed in the GAC Tournament.
The Golden Suns were led by outside hitter Kaylee Konsella who had a match-high 21 kills. Senior outside hitter Emily Todd had a double-double with 13 kills and 15 digs. Senior setter Sierra Nighswonger also had a double-double with 55 assists and 13 digs. Freshman defensive specialist Madison Nagel had a match-high 23 digs.
The match was tied 24 times and had five lead changes.
After leading 13-10 in the first set, Harding went on a 9-3 lead to take a 22-13 advantage. Back-to-back kills by Heim gave the Lady Bisons the set.
Arkansas Tech took a 13-11 lead before Harding went on a 5-0 run to lead 16-13 in the second set. The Golden Suns tied the set at 16 on a kill and a service ace. The two teams battled the rest of the way but a kill by Arkansas Tech tied the match at one apiece. The set was tied 12 times.
The Golden Suns carried their momentum into the third set as they jumped out to a 20-9 lead. Harding only scored one more point the rest of the way as Arkansas Tech took a 2-1 advantage in the match.
The Lady Bisons took a 13-6 lead in the fourth set before the Golden Suns went on a 4-0 run to pull within three. Arkansas Tech stayed close and pulled within one on a 3-0 run as Harding led 21-20. Two Golden Suns attach errors and two kills by Savage gave Harding the set and tied the match at two.
Arkansas Tech took a 6-2 lead in the fifth set before Harding went on a 5-0 run on four kills and a block to lead 7-6. With the set tied at eight, the Golden Suns went on a 7-2 run on four kills to win the set on the match.
It was the second time this season the two teams battled to five sets. Harding fell at Arkansas Tech earlier this season.
