Harding blocks Southwestern to advance in GAC Tournament

Harding Sports
Scott Goode, Associate Athletic Director for Sports Information

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Harding volleyball team defeated Southwestern Oklahoma 3-1 (25-12, 25-17, 23-25, 25-13) Thursday in the first round of the Great American Conference Tournament at Bank of the Ozarks Arena. The Lady Bisons had 14 team blocks which tied for the most in the NCAA era in a conference tournament match.

The Lady Bisons, the No. 2 seed, advances to play No. 3 seed Oklahoma Baptist Friday at 3:30 p.m., in the semifinals of the GAC Tournament.

Harding improves to 26-5 overall and Southwestern Oklahoma falls to 13-20 overall.

FIRST SET

Trailing 5-3 in the first set, Harding went on a 17-4 run to lead 20-9. The Lady Bisons won the set off a kill and a service ace by Zoe Hardin. Harding held Southwestern Oklahoma to hitting -.062 in the set.

SECOND SET

With the second set tied at four, Harding went on a 5-1 run on three kills. After a 3-0 run by Southwestern Oklahoma to make it a 10-8 set, Harding didn’t allow the Bulldogs to get any closer than three as the Lady Bisons won 25-17.

THIRD SET

Trailing 3-2, Southwestern Oklahoma went on an 8-1 run to lead 10-4. Harding then took back the lead on 7-0 run to lead 11-10. Trailing 20-19, the Bulldogs went on a 4-0 run to lead 23-20. The Lady Bisons battled back to cut the lead to one, 24-23 but a kill by Danusia Sipa Brogeau gave Southwestern Oklahoma the set. Harding had eight attack errors in the set.

FOURTH SET

Harding jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the third set and then extended its lead to 19-7 on a 5-0 run. Emily Clayton had a kill to give the Lady Bisons the set 25-13. Harding had 14 kills and held the Bulldogs to hitting .000 in the set.

STATS

Harding

– Harding had 51 kills in the match, led by Zoe Hardin who had 12. Hardin also hit .333 and had seven blocks.

– Taylor Mounts had 11 kills for Harding.

– Rachel Heussner captured a double-double with 48 assists and 17 digs.

– Taylor Lake led the defense with 22 digs. Madison Poen had 14 digs, Selena Foster had 13 and Taylor Eubank had 12.

Southwestern Oklahoma

– Southwestern Oklahoma hit .045 in the match and had 33 attack errors.

– Ddanusia Sipa Borgeau led the Bulldogs with 15 kills.

– Kaitlyn Dillon had 22 digs for Southwestern Oklahoma.

QUOTE

Head Coach Meredith Fear: “I feel good about the effort the ladies put forth today. Southwestern Oklahoma made some smart changes in the third, but we adjusted and got the win.”