Written by Kelsey Bangs
With the Lady Bison volleyball team predicted to finish first in the Gulf South Conference, hopes are high for the season.
After winning the GSC West Division last season with a 28-7 record, the Lady Bisons have been picked to be number one again this season by the GSC coaches.
Senior Emily Tate and junior Alex Smith both received preseason honors. Tate said the Lady Bisons are the team to beat this year.
“Everyone’s goal is to beat us, so everyone brings their best game against us. We have to
be prepared,” Tate said.
The Lady Bisons are scheduled to play two top-10 teams this season: Number six
Washburn on Sept. 10 and number three Tampa on Sept. 17.
Tate said this season should be one to remember, as the Lady Bisons’ last with the GSC.
“This is our last year in the GSC, so it would be nice to go out with a bang,” Tate said.
The team maintained a grade point average of 3.52 last season and won the American
Volleyball Coaches Team Academic Award, Tate said it is always a goal for the Lady Bisons to maintain a
GPA of 3.3.
“We all push ourselves on and off the court,” said Tate.
The Lady Bisons have won the award seven times over the past 10 years.
The Lady Bisons are scheduled to open the season with their first game Sept.3 at the Texas Women’s Tournament in Denton.
The team encourages Harding University students to be at the first home game scheduled for Sept. 21 against Southern Arkansas University.
“We really feed off of our audience if we have a good showing at home games,” said Emily Tate.
