SEARCY – The seventh-ranked Harding volleyball team defeated Arkansas Tech 3-2 (25-12, 22-25, 19-25, 29-27, 15-5) Tuesday to seal the No. 1 seed in the East Division in the Great American Conference Tournament.
With the No. 1 seed comes a bye in the GAC Tournament. Harding will host the winner between the East No. 4 and No. 5 seed on April 8. Time is TBD. The No. 4 seed will host the No. 5 seed on April 6. If Harding wins on April 8, the Lady Bisons will host the semifinals and the finals of the GAC Tournament played April 10 and 11. The Eastern Division won the coin toss for volleyball hosting rights if matching seeds advance to the tournament's final four portion.
It is the third time in the NCAA era (since 1997) the Lady Bisons have started the season 9-0. The last time was in 2017 when Harding started 11-0.
Harding improves to 9-0 overall and 9-0 in the GAC.
Arkansas Tech falls to 6-4 overall and 6-4 in the GAC.
FIRST SET
Harding jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first set and did not look back as the Lady Bisons won the set 25-12.
SECOND SET
The second set stayed close throughout until Arkansas Tech took a 22-21 lead on a Harding service error. Two kills and two aces gave the Golden Suns the set 25-22.
THIRD SET
Down 20-13, Harding went on a 5-0 run on three kills to pull within two, 20-18. Arkansas Tech came out of the timeout with a 4-0 run to lead 24-18. A kill gave them the set 25-19.
FOURTH SET
The fourth set was much like the second set as it stayed close throughout. Arkansas Tech had set and match point 24-22 but a kill by Chloe Ingersoll and a block by Libby Hinton and Logan Smith tied the set at 24. The Golden Suns had back-to-back kills to go up 26-25 but Harding answered back with a kill by Logan Smith. With the set tied at 27, Logan Smith had a kill and an Arkansas Tech had an attack error to give Harding the set 29-27.
FIFTH SET
With the fifth set tied at three, Harding went on a 6-0 run to lead 9-3. After two points by Arkansas Tech, Harding went on another 6-0 run on three kills by Logan Smith to win the set 15-5. Harding held Arkansas Tech to only one kill in the set.
STATS
Harding
- Harding had 57 kills, 16 attack errors and hit .270.
- The Lady Bisons were led by Logan Smith who had 19 kills for the second straight match. She had as many at Ouachita Baptist last Tuesday.
- Logan Smith also hit .475 with no attack errors.
- Libby Hinton had 12 kills and hit .375. She also had three blocks.
- Chloe Ingersoll had 10 kills and hit .391.
- Sarah Morehead had 44 assists for Harding and had nine digs.
- Katherine Cowart led the defense with 22 digs. Amber Robin added 10 digs for the Lady Bisons.
Arkansas Tech
- Arkansas Tech had 51 kills, 26 attack errors and hit .154.
- Haylee Paladini and Mackenzie Eford each had 12 kills for the Golden Suns.
- Madison Grantham had 21 digs to lead the defense.
UP NEXT
Harding will play its regular season finale Thursday when it travels to Magnolia, Arkansas to take on Southern Arkansas. First serve is at 6 p.m. The match was originally scheduled to be played March 16 but was postponed due to COVID.
