SEARCY, Ark. – The sixth-ranked Harding volleyball team defeated Arkansas-Monticello 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 26-24) Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Great American Conference Tournament. With the win comes hosting the tournament semifinals and finals.
Harding will take on No. 2 seed in the west Southwestern Oklahoma Saturday at 2 p.m., for a chance to play for its third GAC Tournament title.
With the win, Harding ties is school record for the most wins to start a season at 11. The last time the Lady Bisons went 11-0 was in 2017.
Arkansas-Monticello ends its season with a 6-6 record.
FIRST SET
Harding jumped out to an 11-4 start in the first set and did not look back as it won the set 25-17. The Lady Bisons had 16 kills and hit .218 in the set. Arkansas-Monticello was held to nine kills and hit .060.
SECOND SET
Harding continued its momentum into the second set as it started with a 3-0 run and led the rest of the way. Arkansas-Monticello battled back and got within four, 19-15, but Harding put the set away on four kills to win 25-19.
THIRD SET
Trailing 9-6, Harding went on an 11-2 run on six kills to lead 17-11. Arkansas-Monticello battled back and tied the set at 24 on a 13-6 run. A kill by Logan Smith and an ace by Sarah Morehead gave Harding the set 26-24.
STATS
Harding
- Harding had 45 kills, 17 attack errors and hit .199 in the match.
- Libby Hinton and Logan Smith each had 10 kills for the Lady Bisons.
- Sarah Morehead had 32 assists and seven digs.
- Katherine Cowart led the defense with 26 digs. Amber Robin added 14 digs for Harding.
Arkansas-Monticello
- Arkansas-Monticello had 32 kills, 17 attack errors and hit .107.
- Faith Wilemon led the Blossoms with eight kills. Three other UAM players had seven kills.
- Katelyn Richbourg led the defense with 19 digs.
UAM Recap