SEARCY – The Harding volleyball team will travel to NCAA Division I Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday in non-conference action that starts at 7 p.m. The Lady Bisons head into the match with an 18-7 overall record.
HARDING
The Lady Bisons are coming off a 1-1 week. Harding fell to Arkansas Tech 3-2 in Searcy but bounced back to defeat Southwestern Oklahoma 3-0 on Saturday on senior day.
The Lady Bisons are playing their final non-conference match of the season on Tuesday. Harding boasts an 8-4 non-conference record this season.
The Lady Bisons have already sealed a spot in the Great American Conference 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 Southeastern Oklahoma on Thursday for their final GAC match.
The Lady Bisons are led on the season by senior outside hitter Marindia Turner who averages 3.02 kills ranking her ninth in the GAC. Harding's offense is quarterbacked by senior setter Taryn Eubank who ranks third in the GAC in assists, averaging 10.09 per set.
Sophomore middle blocker Sara Smith ranks third in the GAC in hitting with a .314 percentage. Senior middle blocker Liv Savage ranks third in the GAC in blocks, averaging 1.12 per set. She also ranks third the GAC in service aces with a 0.46 per set average.
The Lady Bisons defense is led by sophomore defensive specialist Anna Leigh Cargile who averages 4.25 digs per set, ranking her seventh in the conference.
As a team, Harding ranks second in the GAC in hitting percentage (.217), assists (12.16 per set) and kills (13.29 per set). The Lady Bisons rank first in the GAC in digs averaging 18.10 per set.
Harding is coached by Meredith Fear who is in her third season at the helm.
ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
Arkansas-Pine Bluff is a NCAA Division I member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and has an enrollment of 2,521.
This season the Lady Lions are 4-2 in conference and 4-15 outside the SWAC. Their last non-conference win came against Bacone in Russellville, 3-1. Arkansas-Pine Bluff has fallen to GAC members Arkansas Tech (3-0) and Arkansas-Monticello (3-1) this season. They also defeated Arkansas-Monticello in Pine Bluff 3-2.
The Lady Lions are led on the season by outside hitter Ashlie Jones who averages 2.44 kills per set and 2.06 digs per set. Junior defensive specialist Courtney Brand leads the defense, averaging 3.26 digs per set.
SERIES
Harding leads the series 23-1.
It will be the first time the two teams have face each other since the Lady Bisons joined the NCAA in 1997.
