With the 10th straight win of the season last Saturday, the Lady Bison volleyball team has wrapped up the regular season championship in the Great American Conference. Hopes were high coming into the 2012 season for the Harding volleyball team in their first season under new head coach, and former Lady Bison, Meredith Fear.
The Lady Bisons were able to use the momentum from their strong finish last season along with their returning leadership to grab hold of the Great American Conference.
“We are very excited about the chance to host the conference tournament,” Fear said. “We’re undefeated in conference play so far and hopefully we’ll be 17-0 by the end of the tournament.”
Harding finished last season behind undefeated rival Arkansas Tech in the standings, but went on a run in the conference tournament as they grabbed the conference title. Now it is the Lady Bisons who are bringing the regular season conference crown home as they will be hosting the 2012 GAC volleyball tournament in the Rhodes Field House from Nov. 15-17.
The Lady Bisons have played well this season, using a 10-game winning streak to keep hold on their first place position in the conference standings, including a nearly flawless showing on the road against rival Arkansas Tech which clinched the conference championship and finalized the GAC’s tournament home in the Rhodes Field House.
Harding was led by standout junior Mollie Arnold, but it was the other Lady Bisons who stepped up that gave HU the push that earned them a regular season conference title. While Arnold dominated on the attack to the tune of more than 400 kills on the season and a strong .263 hitting percentage, sophomores Liv Savage and Marindia Turner were two ladies who stepped up to help lead the Harding offense on their winning streak.
“I am just super excited for the team and how we accomplished all of our goals this year,” Savage said. “It is just such a blessing to be hosting the conference tournament.”
Harding and the rest of the GAC will be back in action next week when the Great American Conference tournament kicks off in the Rhodes Field House starting Nov. 15.
