Written by Kate Kuwitzky
The Lady Bison Volleyball team opens Gulf South Conference tournament play this Friday against Valdosta State in the Rhodes Field House.
Harding comes in as the top seed after posting an 11-1 conference record this season. Valdosta State comes into tournament play with a 4-6 conference record. In their only meeting of the regular season the Lady Bisons defeated Valdosta State 3-2. Senior Sarah Phipps led Harding with 17 kills and nine digs in the match.
The Lady Bisons start the tournament with high aspirations.
“Our capabilities are endless,” head coach Keith Giboney said. “There’s been moments when we show our potential. Outside the valleys, of the season we’ve done a great job to play at this level. I’m proud of where we’ve come.”
If the regular season is any indication, the Lady Bisons have plenty of star power to make a run at being conference champions.
Last Wednesday senior Manuela Nesheva was named Gulf South Conference West Division Player of the Year for the second time. Nesheva is the first Harding player and the fourth GSC player to earn player of the year honors multiple times. She was also named to the West Division All-GSC team. Nesheva averaged 4.43 kills per set, second in the GSC and fifth in NCAA Division II. She also became the all-time leader in kills for Harding this year.
Phipps and junior Emily Tate were also named to the West Division All-GSC team. Tate was a defensive leader this season, averaging 4.74 digs per set. She also led the conference in service aces per set, averaging 0.51.
Phipps was second on the team in kills per set with an average of 2.31. Ten times this season she had more than 10 digs and 10 kills in a match. Besides the obvious statistical success, Phipps plays a big role for the Lady Bisons.
“She’s very much a leader, a quiet competitor,” Giboney said. “She has very high expectations for herself and is an integral part of what we do on the court both offensively and defensively.”
Phipps is a senior and will end her Lady Bison career this weekend as Harding hosts the GSC Tournament. Phipps has improved each year she’s been here and did not disappoint in her final season.
“It took a lot to get where she is, but she’s peaked this year and helped us to have the kind of year we’ve had,” Giboney said.
The Lady Bisons look to cap off their impressive season with a strong showing at the conference tournament.
