DENTON, Texas – The Harding volleyball team defeated Eastern New Mexico (25-16, 25-12, 25-18) but fell to host team Texas Woman's (17-25, 25-12, 25-19, 25-20) Friday on the first day of the Pioneer Invitational.
Harding moves to 4-2 on the season.
Eastern New Mexico falls to 1-5 and Texas Woman's improves to 3-2.
EASTERN NEW MEXICO MATCH
FIRST SET
Harding took a 3-0 lead early in the first set and then took a 9-3 lead. Leading 14-9, the Lady Bisons went on a 7-1 run to lead 21-10. Harding won the set 25-16.
SECOND SET
Harding took an 8-1 lead in the second set and then after an 8-2 run, the Lady Bisons led 16-5. Harding won the set 25-12.
THIRD SET
Leading 10-9 in the third set, Harding went on a 7-2 run to lead 17-11. Leading 20-16, the Lady Bisons went on a 5-2 run to win 25-18.
STATS
Harding
- Logan Smith led Harding with 14 kills and hit a season-high .722.
- Arika Johnson had 18 assists for the Lady Bisons.
- Twelve different players had a dig in the match while three had six digs.
- Harding had eight service aces.
- Harding hit a season-high .416 in the match.
Eastern New Mexico
- Jasmine Gannon led Eastern New Mexico with eight kills and four digs.
- Eastern New Mexico hit .222
TEXAS WOMAN'S MATCH
FIRST SET
Leading 7-5 in the first set, Harding went on a 6-0 run to lead 13-5. Texas Woman's cut the lead to three, 14-11, but Harding went on to win the set 25-17.
SECOND SET
Leading 8-6 in the second set, Texas Woman's went on a 9-2 run to lead 17-8. The Pioneers won the set 25-12.
THIRD SET
Harding answered back in the third set taking a 6-2 lead early. Trailing 7-5, Texas Woman's went on a 5-1 run to lead 10-8. With the set tied at 12, Texas Woman's went on an 8-1 run to lead 20-13. The Pioneers won the set 25-19.
FOURTH SET
Texas Woman's took a 7-2 early lead in the fourth set. Harding battled back and got within three, 21-18 but the Pioneers won the set 25-20.
STATS
Harding
- Logan Smith captured her second double-double of the season with 12 kills and 12 digs.
- Katherine Cowart led the defense with 15 digs.
- Arika Johnson captured a double-double with 26 assists and 10 digs.
- Harding was held to hitting .129 in the match.
- Harding had seven service aces.
Texas Woman's
- Courtney Noel and Tabitha Spray each had 16 kills for Texas Woman's.
- Katy Ranes captured a double-double with 28 assists and 11 digs.
- Bailey French had 19 digs.
- Texas Woman's hit .298 in the match with 53 kills.
UP NEXT
Harding will continue the Pioneer Invitational Saturday when it takes on Sioux Falls at 2 p.m., and Pace at 6 p.m. It was be Harding's first meeting between each of the two opponents.
