SEARCY – The Harding volleyball team won its 18th-straight match Friday and set a new school record for the most wins a row after defeating Southwestern Oklahoma 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-16) in Great American Conference action.

The winning streak broke the previous record of 17 that was accomplished twice with the first being in 2002 and the second in 2005.

Harding improves to 20-1 overall and 9-0 in the GAC.

Southwestern Oklahoma falls to 10-9 overall and 6-3 in the GAC.

FIRST SET

Leading 6-5 in the first set, Southwestern Oklahoma went on an 8-3 run on five kills to lead 14-8. Harding battled back and won six of the next eight points to pull with two, 16-14. Down 24-21 Harding got two straight points to pull within one 24-23 but a block by the Bulldogs gave them the set 25-23.

SECOND SET

Trailing 5-3 in the second set, Harding went on a 7-1 run on three kills to lead 10-6. Southwestern Oklahoma battled back to pull within one 24-23 but a Bulldog attack error gave the Lady Bisons the set 25-23. Each team had 11 kills in the set.

THIRD SET

Harding carried its momentum into the third set jumping out to an 8-0 lead. Southwestern Oklahoma didn't get any closer than four the rest of the way as the Lady Bisons won the set 25-20. Harding had 16 kills in the set.

FOURTH SET

Trailing 4-2 in the fourth set, Harding went on a 11-3 run on six kills to lead 13-7. Southwestern Oklahoma couldn't overcome the deficit as the Lady Bisons won the set 25-16. Harding had 17 kills in the set and hit .424.

STATS

Harding

-          Harding had 57 kills and hit .195 in the match.

-          Three players were in double-digit kills. Kelli McKinnon led Harding with a season-high 19 kills, one off a career high. She also hit .485 in the match. Skyler McKinnon had 12 kills and Logan Smith had 10.

-          Sarah Morehead captured a double-double with 48 assists and a season-high 18 digs.

-          Harding had 89 digs in the match led by Emma Winiger who had 21. Grecia Soriano also had 13 digs.

-          Harding had 12 service aces in the match. Libby Hinton had a career-high with four and Emma Winiger also had four.

Southwestern Oklahoma

-          Southwestern Oklahoma had 47 kills and hit .135 in the match.

-          Zoey Sparks led the Bulldogs with 12 kills.

-          Lauren DeSantiago led the defense with 19 digs.

 UP NEXT

Harding will head back to Oklahoma next week. The Lady Bisons will face Oklahoma Baptist Thursday at 6 p.m., in Shawnee and Southern Nazarene Friday at 4 p.m., in Bethany.