HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Harding volleyball team fell to Arkansas Tech 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-21, 25-23) in the semifinals of the Great American Conference Tournament on Friday at Bank of the Ozarks Arena. The Lady Bisons end their season with a 20-9 record.
Harding was led by senior outside hitter Erica Heim who captured a double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs. Senior middle blocker Liv Savage had 14 kills and a match-high five blocks for the Lady Bisons.
Harding had 75 digs in the match led by senior outside hitter had Marindia Turner who had career-high 20 digs. She also had nine kills. Senior setter Taryn Eubank captured her 36th career double-double with 44 assists and 14 digs. Sophomore defensive specialist Anna Leigh Cargile had 13 digs.
Arkansas Tech (25-5) was led by Kaylee Konsella who had 17 kills. Madison Nagel led the Golden Suns defense with a match-high 29 digs.
Arkansas Tech held Harding to hitting .183 as they forced 25 Lady Bison hitting errors.
It was the first time Harding has played the Golden Suns in the semifinals of the GAC Tournament. The teams have met in the finals every year since the conference was created in 2011.
With the first set tied at 15, Arkansas Tech went on an 8-2 run to lead 23-17. The Golden Suns took the set on a kill by Konsella and a block.
Harding opened the second set with a 12-5 lead as they had five kills and forced three attack errors. Arkansas Tech battled back to tie the set and then took the lead on 9-3 run on five kills. The Lady Bisons answered back with a 3-0 run to lead 18-14 but Arkansas Tech wouldn't go away as they pulled within one 21-20 on two kills by Katie Huff. Harding closed the set and evened the match with a 4-1 run on three kills by Heim.
The third set stayed close until Arkansas Tech went on a 7-1 run to lead 19-11 as the Golden Suns forced four Harding attack errors. The Lady Bisons battled back and scored five points with set point on the line but a kill by Huff gave Arkansas Tech the 2-1 lead in the match.
Harding had an 8-5 advantage in the fourth set until the Golden Suns went on a 9-3 run to lead 14-11. The Lady Bisons pulled within two on a block (22-20) but a kill by Konsella gave Arkansas Tech the set and the match.
