MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Harding volleyball team opened Great American Conference action Tuesday when it defeated Southern Arkansas 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-21).

Harding improves to 5-3 on the season and 1-0 in the GAC. The Lady Bisons are 23-2 in conference openers since joining the NCAA in 1997. Harding is 9-1 in GAC openers as the only loss came in 2019 against Arkansas Tech.

Southern Arkansas falls to 2-6 overall and 0-1 in the GAC.

FIRST SET

Leading 6-4 in the first set, Harding went on a 11-3 run on six kills to lead 17-7. The Lady Bisons had back-to-back kills by Chloe Ingersoll to win the set 25-14. Harding had 15 kills with Skyler McKinnon and Chloe Ingersoll each having four. The Lady Bisons hit .367 in the set.

SECOND SET

With the second set tied at 13, Harding went on a 11-3 run on seven kills to lead 24-16. A kill by Kelli McKinnon gave the Lady Bisons the set 25-18. Harding had 14 kills as Kelli McKinnon had half of them. The Lady Bisons hit .265 in the set.

THIRD SET

Southern Arkansas opened the third set with a 4-0 run. Harding then quickly tied the set at four. With the set tied at 14, Harding went on a 4-0 run on three kills to lead 18-14. The Lady Bisons won the set 25-21 on a kill by Kelli McKinnon. Kelli McKinnon had six kills for Harding in the set.

STATS

Harding

-          Harding had 43 kills, 12 attack errors and hit .301.

-          Kelli McKinnon led the Lady Bisons with a season-high 15 kills. She hit .522 in the match with only three attack errors.

-          Harding had seven service aces as four of them came from Emma Winiger.

Southern Arkansas

-          Southern Arkansas had 32 kills and hit .224 in the match.

-          Isla Olivas led the team with seven kills.

UP NEXT

Harding will have the rest of the week off before playing its home opener Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m., at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.