SEARCY – The sixth-ranked Harding volleyball team defeated Arkansas-Monticello 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 26-24) Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Great American Conference Tournament. With the win comes hosting the tournament semifinals and finals.  

Harding will take on No. 2 seed in the west Southwestern Oklahoma Saturday at 2 p.m., for a chance to play for its third GAC Tournament title.

With the win, Harding ties is school record for the most wins to start a season at 11. The last time the Lady Bisons went 11-0 was in 2017.

Arkansas-Monticello ends its season with a 6-6 record.

FIRST SET

Harding jumped out to an 11-4 start in the first set and did not look back as it won the set 25-17. The Lady Bisons had 16 kills and hit .218 in the set. Arkansas-Monticello was held to nine kills and hit .060.

SECOND SET

Harding continued its momentum into the second set as it started with a 3-0 run and led the rest of the way. Arkansas-Monticello battled back and got within four, 19-15, but Harding put the set away on four kills to win 25-19.

THIRD SET

Trailing 9-6, Harding went on an 11-2 run on six kills to lead 17-11. Arkansas-Monticello battled back and tied the set at 24 on a 13-6 run. A kill by Logan Smith and an ace by Sarah Morehead gave Harding the set 26-24.

STATS

Harding

-          Harding had 45 kills, 17 attack errors and hit .199 in the match.

-          Libby Hinton and Logan Smith each had 10 kills for the Lady Bisons.

-          Sarah Morehead had 32 assists and seven digs.

-          Katherine Cowart led the defense with 26 digs. Amber Robin added 14 digs for Harding.

Arkansas-Monticello

-          Arkansas-Monticello had 32 kills, 17 attack errors and hit .107.

-          Faith Wilemon led the Blossoms with eight kills. Three other UAM players had seven kills.

-          Katelyn Richbourg led the defense with 19 digs.