SEARCY, Ark. — In a five-set regular-season finale thriller, the Harding volleyball team held off Great American Conference rival Arkansas Tech 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15-11) on Thursday night inside Rhodes-Reaves Field House.
After the match, Harding honored three seniors, Avery Stanfill, Payton Hilmer and Olivia Wiedower for their contributions to the Harding volleyball program.
With the win, the Lady Bisons improved to 23-4 overall and finished GAC play at 13-3, securing the No. 2 seed in next week's GAC Tournament, scheduled for Nov. 11-13 in Enid, Oklahoma. Harding will take on No. 7 seed Southern Nazarene Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., in the opening round. Arkansas Tech dropped to 16-12 overall and 10-6 in conference action.
The night was also highlighted by an individual milestone, as senior setter Olivia Wiedower eclipsed 4,000 career assists. Wiedower orchestrated the Harding attack throughout the marathon match, racking up 47 assists, 12 digs, two service aces, and a kill.
It was also Harding's ninth straight win dating back to Oct. 8.
Harding featured a balanced offensive performance, led by Melaina Haines and Philomina Klotz with 15 kills apiece. Addie Worley added 14 kills and 12 digs for a double-double, while Ella Drake contributed 10 kills, 11 digs and three blocks.
Defensively, libero Mallory Weyand anchored the back row with a team-high 25 digs, and Maddie Burrough chipped in eight digs and two service aces.
The opening set saw 12 ties and four lead changes. Locked at 21-21, Harding took command on a kill from Haines, followed by back-to-back kills from Worley around a Drake service ace to close out a 4-0 run and take the set 25-21.
Arkansas Tech answered in the second set, utilizing a mid-set surge and 12 kills to pull away late for a 25-21 decision of their own to even the match.
Harding regained control in the third set behind strong serving and timely blocks. The Lady Bisons built an early lead and closed out the frame on a block by Lauren Demuth and Drake to take it 25-19.
The Golden Suns refused to go quietly, battling back from an early deficit in the fourth set. Paced by Madison Crum and Henley Hooks, Arkansas Tech capitalized on an eight-point run to build an 18-11 cushion. Harding cut the margin late, but Arkansas Tech held on for a 25-21 win to send the clash into a decisive fifth set.
In the race to 15, Harding seized the momentum early. With Burrough at the service line, the Lady Bisons reeled off three straight points, including a service ace and a Klotz kill, to jump out to a 5-1 lead. Arkansas Tech rallied within two at 11-9, but Harding answered with kills from Demuth to maintain the edge. At match point, Wiedower fed Worley for her 14th kill of the night to seal the 15-11 victory and close out the 2-hour, 11-minute battle.
