TYLER, Texas – The Harding volleyball team split its two matches at the Texas-Tyler Invitational Friday. The Lady Bisons fell to Ferris State 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-16) but bounced back to defeat West Alabama 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-16).
Harding moves to 3-3 on the season.
Ferris State improves to 4-1 and West Alabama falls to 0-1.
FERRIS STATE MATCH
FIRST SET
Harding opened the set with a 6-3 lead on three kills. Trailing 12-9 Ferris State went on a 7-1 run to lead 16-13. The Lady Bisons battled back to tied the set at 17 but Ferris State quickly answered with a 3-0 run to lead 20-17. Trailing 21-18, Harding went on a 5-1 run on four kills to lead 23-22. A Ferris State kill tied the set at 23. A Harding attack error and a kill by Katie O'Connell gave Ferris State the set 25-23. The Lady Bisons had 13 kills in the set.
SECOND SET
Ferris State jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the second set. Harding answered back with a 7-2 run to trail 9-8. Ferris State went on a 5-0 run to lead 16-10 as the Lady Bisons didn't get any closer than two the rest of the way. Ferris State won the set 25-20.
THIRD SET
The third set stayed close early until Ferris State went on a 10-1 run on five kills to lead 20-11. Ferris State went on to win the set 25-16. Ferris State had 14 kills and hit .393 in the set.
STATS
Harding
- Harding had 37 kills, 16 attack errors and hit .178.
- The Lady Bisons were led by Amber Robin who had seven kills.
- Harding had 13 service errors and one team block.
- Sarah Morehead and Emma Winiger each had nine digs to lead the defense.
Ferris State
- Ferris State had 35 kills, eight attack errors and hit .255.
- Katie O'Connell and Kira Merkle each had 10 kills. O'Connell also had 16 digs to lead the defense.
- Kaylee Maat captured a double-double with 28 assists and 10 digs.
WEST ALABAMA MATCH
FIRST SET
Trailing 15-11 in the first set, Harding went on a 14-3 run on four kills and five service aces to win the set 25-18. Harding had 13 kills in the set.
SECOND SET
Tied at 10 in the second set, Harding went on a 15-7 run on 10 kills to win the set 25-17. The Lady Bisons had 15 kills and hit .364 in the set. Harding forced five West Alabama attack errors in the set.
THIRD SET
Harding jumped out to 8-5 lead in the third set. West Alabama battled back to within one 12-11 but the Lady Bisons answered back with a 3-0 run to lead 15-11. Harding only allowed five more West Alabama points as it won the set 25-16. Harding had 15 kills and hit .314 in the set.
STATS
Harding
- Harding had 43 kills, 14 attack errors and hit .252.
- Libby Hinton led the Lady Bisons with 14 kills and hit .619 with only one attack error.
- Amber Robin added 13 kills and nine digs.
- Emma Winiger led the defense with 20 digs. Kelli McKinnon also had 13 digs.
West Alabama
- West Alabama had 26 kills, 11 attack errors and hit .149.
- Nathalia Medeiros led West Alabama with 11 kills.
- MacKenzie Wells led the defense with 16 digs.
UP NEXT
Harding will wrap up the tournament Saturday at 1 p.m. with a single match against St. Edward's.
