SEARCY – The Harding volleyball will play its final regular season match on Thursday as they travel Arkadelphia, Ark., to face Ouachita Baptist at 7 p.m., in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons head into the match with a 19-7 overall record and a 10-3 GAC record.
HARDING
Harding will be looking for its 20th win on Thursday. It would be the third straight year the Lady Bisons have won 20 or more matches in a season. Since joining the NCAA in 1997, Harding has had 15 seasons they have won over 20 matches.
The Lady Bisons are coming off a 3-0 non-conference win at NCAA Division I Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday. It was the first time in the NCAA era that Harding has played a Division I team.
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 Southeastern Oklahoma on Thursday.
The Lady Bisons are led on the season by senior outside hitter Marindia Turner who averages 2.97 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 .318 percentage. Senior middle blocker Liv Savage ranks second in the GAC in blocks, averaging 1.11 per set. She also ranks third in the GAC in service aces with a 0.45 per set average.
The Lady Bisons defense is led by sophomore defensive specialist Anna Leigh Cargile who averages 4.28 digs per set, ranking her seventh in the conference.
As a team, Harding ranks second in the GAC in hitting percentage (.215), assists (12.1 per set) and kills (13.2 per set). The Lady Bisons rank first in digs averaging 18.1 per set.
Harding is coached by Meredith Fear who is in her third season at the helm.
OUACHITA BAPTIST
Ouachita Baptist heads into the match with a 15-9 overall record and a 6-7 GAC record. The Tigers will advance to the conference tournament no matter the outcome on Thursday. Ouachita Baptist is currently in sixth place in the GAC standings behind Northwestern Oklahoma.
The Tigers are coming off a 3-1 loss at Southeastern Oklahoma last Saturday. Junior right side hitter Abby Pickett led Ouachita Baptist with 11 kills in the match.
The Tigers will also play its final match of the regular season on Thursday. At home this season Ouachita Baptist is 9-3 and has won its last two matches. Henderson State was their last win as the Tigers defeated the Reddies 3-2.
Ouachita Baptist is led on the season by Pickett who averages 2.27 kills per set. The defense is led by sophomore defensive specialist Ashley Wake who averages 4.79 digs per set.
The Tigers are coached by Danny Prescott.
SERIES
Harding leads the series between the two teams 53-22.
When the teams met in Searcy earlier this season, Harding won 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-13). Liv Savage led the Lady Bisons with 13 kills and six blocks. Molly Howard also finished in double figure kills with 10. Anna Leigh Cargile led the defense with 16 digs.
Harding is 35-2 in its NCAA era against Ouachita Baptist and are 15-2 in Arkadelphia. The Lady Bisons last loss in Arkadelphia came in 2011 as Harding fell 3-1. It was the first time since 2000 Harding had lost to the Tigers.
