Harding University Athletics

SHAWNEE, Okla. – Kelli McKinnon had 12 kills and hit .522 to lead the No. 1 seed Harding volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-15) sweep of No. 4 seed Ouachita Baptist in the semifinals of the Great American Conference Tournament.

The Lady Bisons advance to the finals for the seventh time and will face No. 7 seed Northwestern Oklahoma at 3 p.m., Saturday for a chance to win their third tournament championship. Coverage links can be found on HardingSports.com

With the win, Harding has now won 27-straight matches. The streak dates back to August 27th. The Lady Bisons broke the previous record of 17 that was accomplished twice with the first being in 2002 and the second in 2005.

Harding improves to 29-1 on the season and Ouachita Baptist falls to 19-12.

FIRST SET

Harding took a 12-7 lead in the first set before Ouachita Baptist won the next five points to tie the set at 12. Leading 22-21, the Lady Bisons had a kill by McKinnon and an ace by Logan Smith to lead 24-21. The Tigers won the next two points but a kill by Skyler McKinnon gave Harding the set 25-23. Harding had 16 kills in the set.

SECOND SET

Ouachita Baptist jumped out to an 8-5 lead in the second set before Harding went on a 9-2 run on six kills to lead 14-10. The Tigers then battled back on a 6-1 run to take a 16-15 lead. Harding answered back with a 6-1 run on five kills to lead 21-17. A kill by Kelli McKinnon gave the Lady Bisons the set 25-20. Harding had 19 kills in the set.

THIRD SET

Trailing 6-5 in the third set, Harding went on a 7-1 run on four kills to lead 12-7. The Lady Bisons then cruised to a 25-15 set victory. Harding had 15 kills in the set and held Ouachita Baptist to six kills.

STATS

Harding

-          Harding had 50 kills, 19 attack errors and hit .211 in the match. It was the fifth time this season the Lady Bisons have had more then 50 kills in a three-set match.

-          Harding had 77 digs in the match which was the most this season in a three-set match. Emma Winiger led the Lady Bisons with 22 digs. Logan Smith also had 18 digs and Grecia Soriano had 11 digs.

-          Harding had nine service aces in the match by six different players.

Ouachita Baptist

-          Ouachita Baptist had 28 kills, 14 attack errors and hit .110 in the match.

-          Emily Adams and Kayla Steinmeyer led the Tigers with six kills.

-          Ouachita Baptist had 66 digs in the match and were led by Courtney Hanson who had 14.