WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The Harding volleyball team fell to No. 25 Angelo State 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-21) but bounced back to beat Midwestern State 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-15) on Saturday. The Lady Bisons move to 5-3 on the season.
Harding vs. No. 25 Angelo State
Harding was led by senior outside hitter Marindia Turner who had 13 kills. The Lady Bisons defense was led by sophomore defensive specialist Anna Leigh Cargile who had 16 digs. It was the fifth time this season she has had over 10 digs in a match. Senior setter Taryn Eubank captured her third straight double-double with 28 assists and 10 digs.
The 25th-ranked Angelo State (7-1) Belles was led by Mallory Blauser who had 16 kills. Shelby Wilt also had a team-high 17 digs.
Angelo State jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the first set before Harding tied it up 9 as they forced four attack errors. The Lady Bisons then scored the next three points to take a 12-9 lead. The Belles battled back to tie the set at 14 on a 4-2 run. The teams exchanged points and were tied at 23 before Angelo State had two kills to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Angelo State took a 10-4 lead to start the second set before Harding battled back and to take a 17-15 lead on 13-5 run. The teams exchanges points until the Belles took a 24-23 lead. A kill by Abbie Lynn gave Angelo State the set two win.
The third set was close throughout. Harding had a 21-20 lead on a kill by Turner before the Belles took the next five points on two kills and two service aces and a block to win the set and the match.
Both teams hit over .200 in the match. The Lady Bisons had 39 kills on 124 attempts with 13 errors for a .210 hitting percentage and Angleo State had 47 kills on 123 attempts with 15 errors for a .260 hitting percentage.
Harding's hitting errors were the second fewest by the Lady Bisons this season. Harding only had eight against Alderson Broaddus in the second match of the season.
Harding vs. Midwestern State
Harding was led by Turner who had 14 kills and hit .324 in the match. Eubank captured a double-double with 31 assists and a team-high 14 digs. Senior outside hitter Erica Heim added 11 digs for the Lady Bisons.
Midwestern State (4-4) was led by Kat Molloy and Nicole Marzik who each had six kills.
The Harding defense held the Mustangs to hitting only .066. They also forced 20 attack errors.
Midwestern State took a 6-1 lead in the first set before Harding battled back to tie the match at eight. The Lady Bisons went on a 5-2 run to take a 13-9 lead. Harding then went on to take the set as they went on 5-2 run.
Harding took a commanding 14-5 lead in the second set. The Lady Bisons only allowed the Mustangs to score 14 points in the set as Harding won 25-14.
Harding jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the third set before going onto win 25-15.
Harding will be back in action on Tuesday as they host Arkansas-Fort Smith in its home opener at 7 p.m., at the Rhodes Field House.
