HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The sixth seed Harding volleyball team defeated the third seed Southwestern Oklahoma 3-1 (25-27, 25-23, 31-29, 27-25) Thursday in the opening round of the Great American Conference Tournament at Bank OZK Arena.

Harding advances to the semifinals were it will face No. 2 seed Northwestern Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m., Friday.

Harding improves to 20-10 overall. It was the 27th time and the fourth straight the Lady Bisons have won 20 or more matches in a season.

Southwestern Oklahoma ends its season with a 16-12 record.

FIRST SET

With the first set tied at six, Harding won the next four points on two kills to lead 10-6. Southwestern Oklahoma bounced back to pull within one, 10-9. Harding then went on an 8-4 run to lead 18-13. Trailing 23-19, the Bulldogs won three straight points to pull within one, 23-22. Harding had two set points but Southwestern Oklahoma won the set 27-25. The Lady Bisons had 19 kills in the set.

SECOND SET

Harding jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the second set on three kills and three blocks. Trailing 19-9, Southwestern Oklahoma went on a 12-3 run to pull within one, 22-21. The Lady Bisons won three of the next five points to win the set 25-23.

THIRD SET

Trailing 14-12 in the third set, Harding went on a 4-0 run on two kills to lead 16-14. The Lady Bisons held on to its lead until Southwestern Oklahoma took a 23-22 lead. Harding had five set points and finally won when it closed on the set on a 3-0 run on three straight kills to win 31-29. The Lady Bisons had 22 kills in the set.

FOURTH SET

Southwestern Oklahoma took a 9-4 lead in the fourth set as Harding had five attack errors. The Lady Bisons went on a 13-7 run to lead 17-16. Trailing 24-23, Harding went on a 4-1 run on three kills to win the set 27-25.

STATS

Harding

-          Logan Smith captured a double-double for Harding with 19 kills and 21 digs.

-          Libby Hinton had 16 kills, hit .353 and had six blocks.

-          Kelli McKinnon had 14 kills and Ally Stoner had 10 kills.

-          Sarah Morehead had a season-high 57 assists and had 17 digs.

-          Hardin had 114 digs led by Emma Winiger who had 22. Katherine Cowart had 21 digs and Kinley Schnell had 15.

-          Harding had five service aces.

-          Harding had 69 kills, 30 attack errors and hit .179.

Southwestern Okla.

-          Morgan Maicee led Southwestern Oklahoma with 19 kills.

-          Emily Wood had 15 kills and 28 digs.

-          Kaitlyn Dillon had 30 digs to lead the defense.