SHAWNEE, Okla. – The Harding volleyball team fell to Oklahoma Baptist 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-16, 25-22) on Friday in Great American Conference action.

RECORDS

Oklahoma Baptist improves to 14-11 overall and 9-2 in the GAC. Harding falls to 11-12 overall and 6-4 in the GAC.

SET ONE HIGHLIGHTS

Oklahoma Baptist took a 5-1 lead in the first set after they forced four Harding attack errors. Harding battled back to tie the set at 12 on a kill by Emily Clayton. Tied at 17, Oklahoma Baptist went on a 6-1 run to lead 23-18. The Lady Bisons got two more points before Oklahoma Baptist had a kill by Priscila Mendes to win the set 25-20.

SET TWO HIGHLIGHTS

Harding took a 16-9 lead in the second set on seven kills. Oklahoma Baptist climbed back in the set and pulled within one 23-22 but the Lady Bisons forced two attack errors to win the set 25-22. Harding had 14 kills in the set.

SET THREE HIGHLIGHTS

Oklahoma Baptist jumped out to a 15-8 lead in the third set. Harding tried to battle back but the lead was too much to overcome. Oklahoma Baptist won the last four points to win the set 25-16.

SET FOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Oklahoma Baptist took a 10-6 lead in the fourth set after trailing 4-2 early on. Harding fought its way back with a 7-1 run to lead 13-11 on four kills. Oklahoma Baptist scored the next three points to lead 14-13. Up 23-22, Oklahoma Baptist had a kill by Kate Decker and forced a Harding attack error to win the set and the match.

TEAM STATS

Harding had a season-high 90 digs in the match. Four different players finished in double-figures.

Harding falls into a tie for fifth place in the GAC standings. The top eight teams advance to the GAC Tournament held in Hot Springs, Arkansas Nov. 18-21.

The Lady Bisons had 52 kills in the match and three players had over 10 kills. Harding had a season-high 31 attack errors in the match and hit .119.

Oklahoma Baptist had 55 kills, 23 attack errors and hit .187.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Harding was led by freshman middle blocker Zoe Hardin who had 13 kills and had eight blocks. Junior middle blocker Sara Smith and senior outside hitter Molly Howard each had 12 kills.

Junior setter Abigail Glosup captured a double-double with 43 assists and a career-high 19 digs.

Junior defensive specialist Anna Leigh Cargile had 21 digs to lead the Harding defense. Junior defensive specialist Bianca Trevino had a season-high 13 digs and freshman outside hitter Madison Poen had 12 digs for Harding.

Oklahoma Baptist was led by Carey Strong who had a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs. She also had four blocks. Kaitlyn Lucy, who leads the GAC in digs, had a match-high 36.

QUOTE

Head Coach Meredith Fear: "Tonight was a defensive battle that we fell short in. We fought hard and played point for point but didn't close sets out when necessary."

UP NEXT

Harding will be back in action on Saturday when it travels to Bethany, Oklahoma to face Southern Nazarene. First serve is set for 11 a.m.