RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Harding volleyball team defeated No. 23 Washburn 3-2 (22-25, 25-12, 29-27, 17-25, 15-10) and fell to No. 15 Central Missouri 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-17) Friday on the first day of the Holiday Inn Express Spikefest hosted by Arkansas Tech.

It was Harding's first loss of the season against Central Missouri as the Lady Bisons move to an 11-1 record.

Washburn falls to 7-3 and Central Missouri improves to 8-3.

Harding's win over Washburn was the first win over a ranked team since 2005 and first win over Washburn since 2002.

WASHBURN MATCH

FIRST SET

The first set was close throughout. Trailing 22-21, Washburn scored the next four points to win the set 25-22 behind three kills.

SECOND SET

Harding jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the second set and went on to win 25-12. It was the fewest points Washburn has scored in a set this season.

THIRD SET

Harding took a 17-12 lead midway through the third set until Washburn went on a 8-1 run to lead 20-18. The Lady Bisons then took a 23-21 lead before the Ichabods battled back to take a 24-23 lead. Washburn went up 26-25 before Harding answered back with two points. Tied at 27, Harding forced an attack error and a kill by Emily Clayton gave the Lady Bisons the set win, 29-27.

FOURTH SET

Washburn came out and took a 6-1 lead in the fourth set and did not look back as the Ichabods won 25-17.

FIFTH SET

Harding took a 7-4 lead in the fifth set before Washburn made it 9-8. The Lady Bisons went on a 5-0 run off three blocks to make it 13-9 score. Harding had back-to-back kills by Zoe Hardin to win the set 15-10.

STATS

Harding

-          Harding was led by Taylor Mounts who had a season-high 17 kills and hit .279.

-          Zoe Hardin also added 16 kills and 10 blocks.

-          Rachel Heussner had a career-high 58 assists and 11 digs.

-          Taylor Eubank and Taylor Lake combind for 27 digs for Harding. Eubank led the Lady Bisons with 20 and Lake had 17.

-          Harding had a season-high 16 blocks in the match.

Washburn

-          Washburn was led by Erica Montgomery who had 16 kills and 10 digs.

-          Faith Rottinghaus had a match-high 33 digs for the Ichabods.

CENTRAL MISSOURI MATCH

FIRST SET

Harding had a 17-13 lead in the first set after a 4-0 run until Central Missouri went on a 5-0 run to lead 18-17. With the set tied at 20, the Jennies went on a 6-1 run on five kills to win the set 25-21.

SECOND SET

The second set stayed close until Central Missouri took a 21-20 lead on a 3-0 run. Harding only scored one more point as the Jennies won 25-22.

THIRD SET

Central Missouri jumped out to 17-9 lead in the third set and did not look back as the Jennies won 25-17. Central Missouri hit .375 in the set with 18 kills.

STATS

Harding

-          Harding was led by Zoe Hardin who had eight kills and two solo blocks.

-          Rachel Heussner had 25 assists and 11 digs for the Lady Bisons.

-          Taylor Lake added 17 digs.

Central Missouri

-          Central Missouri had three players in double-figure kills. Audrey Fisher led the way with 12.

-          Ally Offerdahl had 37 assists and 11 digs.

-          Kylie Hohlen had a match-high 27 digs.

-          Central Missouri had 47 kills and hit .273 in the match.

QUOTE

Harding head coach Meredith Fear, "We won and learned today. Felt really good to get a hard fought five set win. It was tough to turn around and immediately play another top-25 team. We had leads late in the first and second sets but could not hold on. Looking to come out refreshed and ready tomorrow."

UP NEXT

Harding will wrap up the spikefest Saturday at 9 a.m., against St. Edward's.