SEARCY – The Harding Volleyball team will play three matches this weekend as they take part in the Midwestern State Tournament held in Wichita Falls, Texas. The Lady Bisons will play Tarleton State on Friday at 8 p.m. and then on Saturday they will face No. 25 Angelo State at 3 p.m., and Midwestern State at 5:30 p.m.
Harding
Harding heads into the weekend with a 4-1 record. The Lady Bisons are coming off a 3-0 Great American Conference win at Arkansas-Monticello on Tuesday. Senior middle blocker Liv Savage, reigning GAC Defender of the Week, led Harding with 10 kills and four blocks against the Cotton Blossoms.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 13.4 kills per set and 17.1 digs per set.
Harding has three players that are averaging over two kills per set. The Lady Bisons are led by senior outside hitter Marindia Turner who averages 2.88 kills. Savage averages 2.82 and senior outside hitter Erica Heim averages 2.47.
Senior setter Taryn Eubank averages 10.29 assists per set and 2.24 digs.
Heim and sophomore defensive specialist Anna Leigh Cargile leads the Harding defense, averaging over three digs per set. Heim averages 3.88 per set and Cargile averages 3.24 per set.
Harding is coached by Meredith Fear who is in her third year at the helm.
Tarleton State
Tarleton State, an NCAA Division II member of the Lone Star Conference, heads in the weekend with a 5-1 record.
The Texanns have won their last three matches including a 3-0 win over Texas A&M-Commerce on Tuesday in LSC action.
Tarleton State is led by Hailey Roberts who averages 4.19 kills per set and 3.62 digs per set.
The Texanns defense is led by Katie Covell who averages 5.30 digs per set.
As a team, Tarleton State averages 12.4 kills and 18.1 digs.
The Texanns are coached by Mary Schindler who is in her 10th season.
Harding leads the series over Tarleton State 2-1. It will be the first time since 1997 the two teams have played. The Lady Bisons lost the match 3-2.
No. 25 Angelo State
No. 25 Angelo State, an NCAA Division II member of the Lone Star Conference, heads into the weekend with a 4-1 record. The Belles have won their last three matches including a 3-1 win over Texas Woman's last Tuesday in LSC action.
Angelo State will face Cameron on Friday and then Midwestern State on Saturday before playing the Lady Bisons.
The Belles average 13.5 kills and 21.2 digs. They also average 1.6 blocks per set.
Angelo State is led by Mallory Blauser who averages 4.15 kills. Shelby Wilt leads the defense averaging 4.95 digs.
The Belles are coached by Chuck Waddington who is in his seven season.
Harding leads the series between the two teams 4-2. It will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2003. The Lady Bisons won 3-0.
It will be the first time Harding has faced a ranked opponent this season.
Midwestern State
Midwestern State, an NCAA Division II member of the Lone Star Conference, heads into the weekend with a 4-1 record. The Mustangs are coming off a 3-2 non-conference win over Dallas Baptist on Tuesday.
Midwestern State averages 12.7 kills, 19.7 digs and 2.0 blocks.
The Mustangs are led by Kat Molloy who averages 2.50 kills. The defense is led by Casey Fletcher who averages 6.64 digs per set.
The Mustangs are coached by Venera Flores-Stafford who enters her 11th season as head coach.
Harding leads the series between the two teams 4-1. In the last match between the two teams in 2009, Harding won 3-1.
