TOPEKA, Kan. – The 19th-ranked Harding volleyball team fell to two ranked opponents Friday in its season opening matches. The Lady Bisons fell to 25th-ranked Rockhurst 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-15) and 8th-ranked Washburn 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-18).

Harding falls to 0-2 on the season.

Rockhurst improves to 1-0 and Washburn improves to 3-0.

ROCKHURST MATCH

FIRST SET

Rockhurst jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first set. Trailing 17-10, Harding went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to one, 17-16. Leading 23-19, Rockhurst had back-to-back kills to take the set 25-19. Rockhurst had 13 kills in the set.

SECOND SET

Rockhurst again jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second set on three kills and three attack errors. Harding battled its way back into the set and pulled within three, 16-13. Rockhurst scored the next five points to lead 21-13 and went on to win the set 25-19. Harding had 10 attack errors in the set.

THIRD SET

Harding took a 2-0 lead in the third set until Rockhurst went on a 9-1 run on four kills to lead 9-3. Leading 22-15, Rockhurst scored the next three points to win the set 25-15. Rockhurst had 12 kills in the set and hit .440.

STATS

Harding

-          Libby Hinton led Harding with nine kills and hit .412 in the match.

-          Harding had 31 kills and was held to hitting .071 in the match.

-          Amber Robin led the defense with 10 digs.

Rockhurst

-          Averi Vomastic led Rockhurst with 13 kills.

-          Rockhurst had 36 kills and hit .299.

-          Maureen Reilly led the defense with 15 digs.

-          Rockhurst had seven blocks in the match.

WASHBURN MATCH

FIRST SET

The first set was tied 15 times. Harding took a 23-22 advantage but had a service error to tie the set at 23. A Lady Bison attack error and a Washburn service ace gave Washburn the set 25-23. Harding had 19 kills in the set and hit .395. Washburn had 16 kills and only one attack error and hit .417.

SECOND SET

Harding kept the second set close until midway through. Leading 15-14, Washburn went on a 4-1 run to lead 19-15. The Lady Bisons got within three, 23-20 on a block by Ally Stoner and Libby Hinton but Washburn went onto win 25-21. Harding had 17 kills in the set and hit .303. Washburn had 13 kills and hit .385 with only three attack errors.

THIRD SET

Harding took a 10-7 lead in the third set until Washburn went on a 4-0 run to lead 11-10. The Lady Bisons never got the lead back as Washburn won the set 25-18. Washburn had 15 kills and hit .333 in the set.

STATS

Harding

-          Chloe Ingersoll had 12 kills for Harding. Skyler McKinnon and Ally Stoner each added nine kills.

-          Harding had 47 kills and hit .323 with 15 attack errors.

-          Kinley Schnell led the defense with 12 digs.

Washburn

-          Genna Berg led Washburn with 11 kills. Allison Maxwell had 10 kills and hit .562 in the match.

-          Washburn had 44 kills and hit .378 with seven attack errors.

-          Taylor Antonowich led the defense with 27 digs.

UP NEXT

The Washburn Tournament will continue Saturday when Harding takes on 15th-ranked Northern State at 11 a.m., and then Cameron at 4 p.m.