SEARCY – The Harding volleyball team will host Southwestern Oklahoma in Great American Conference action on Saturday at 11 a.m., in the Rhodes Field House on senior day. After the match, the Lady Bisons will recognize four seniors (Taryn Eubank, Liv Savage, Marindia Turner and Erica Heim) for their contributions to the Harding volleyball program.
HARDING
Harding heads into the match with a 17-7 overall record and a 9-3 GAC record.
The Lady Bisons are coming off a 3-2 loss at home against Arkansas Tech on Tuesday. The loss snapped a 29 match home winning streak that dated back to 2011. Junior outside hitter Marindia Turner led Harding with 16 kills and 17 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. They are currently tied with Southern Nazarene for second place in the standings. The Crimson Storm will host Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday in Bethany, Okla.
The Lady Bisons are led on the season by Turner who averages 3.00 kills ranking her ninth in the GAC. Harding's offense is quarterbacked by Eubank who ranks third in the GAC in assists, averaging 10.08 per set.
Sophomore middle blocker Sara Smith ranks third in the GAC in hitting with a .310 percentage. Senior middle blocker Liv Savage ranks second in the GAC in blocks, averaging 1.10 per set. She also ranks third the GAC in service aces with a 0.44 per set average.
The Lady Bisons defense is led by sophomore defensive specialist Anna Leigh Cargile who averages 4.22 digs per set, ranking her seventh in the conference.
As a team, Harding ranks second in the GAC in hitting percentage (.215), assists (12.08 per set), kills (13.22 per set) and digs (17.93).
Harding is coached by Meredith Fear who is in her third season at the helm.
SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA
Southwestern Oklahoma is located in Weatherford, Okla., and heads into the match with an 8-14 overall record and a 5-7 GAC record. The Bulldogs sealed a spot in the GAC Tournament this past week. They are currently tied for seventh in the conference standings with Arkansas-Monticello.
Southwestern Oklahoma is coming off three non-conference matches. The Bulldogs went 1-2 and their only win came against Oklahoma Baptist 3-2.
Southwestern Oklahoma's last GAC match was last Thursday. The Bulldogs fell to Southern Nazarene 3-2 in Weatherford.
Southwestern Oklahoma won its last road match and are 4-3 on the road this season. The Bulldogs last win came at East Central 3-2.
Southwestern Oklahoma is led on the season by sophomore outside hitter Carly Zak who ranks sixth in the GAC, averaging 3.20 kills per set. Senior outside hitter Joey Collins ranks eighth in the conference in kills per set with a 3.08 average.
The defense is led by freshman defensive specialist Kaila Lancaster who ranks sixth in the GAC in digs averaging 4.64 per set. Senior middle blocker Kiley Brennfoerder ranks fourth in blocks, averaging 1.07 per set.
As a team, the Bulldogs rank second in the GAC in blocks, averaging 2.03 per set. They also rank third in digs, averaging 17.89 per set.
Southwestern Oklahoma is coached by Josh Collins who is in his third season at the helm.
SERIES
Harding leads the series between the two teams 8-0.
When the teams met in Weatherford last season, the Lady Bisons won 3-1. Marindia Turner had 10 kills for Harding and Taryn Eubank had a double-double with 44 assists and 11 digs.
Harding is 3-0 against Southwestern Oklahoma in Searcy. The Lady Bisons won 3-0 when they last played the Bulldogs in Searcy in 2012.
