The women’s volleyball team is tied for first place against Oklahoma Baptist University (OKBU) in the Great American Conference (GAC) after a 3-0 win against Henderson State University on Nov. 3. The team currently has a seven-win streak, including their first away win at Southern Arkansas University (SAU) on Nov. 1.
“The SAU game was tough for us because it was about us coming together and showing everyone that we could still be a good team on the road and doing what we’ve been doing at home in someone else’s gym,” sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Lake said.
The Bisons won the game against SAU in three sets (27-25, 25-9, 25-20) with 35 kills, hit .220 and had 10 team blocks.
“SAU was the first time we had played away in a while and so we really wanted to prove that we weren’t just winning because we were home, it was because we’re playing well,” sophomore outside hitter Madison Poen said.
Sophomore Zoe Hardin and freshman Alex Nolan led Harding with eight kills. Hardin, who leads the GAC in blocks, had seven while Nolan and Lake had 16 digs each.
“We are always happy to get on the bus with a 3-0 win on a road trip. We were a little more streaky tonight than I would like but we did a good job scoring when necessary. Our defense did a great job tonight,” coach Meredith Fear said in an interview with Harding Sports.
The win against HSU marked Harding’s 20th win of the season (25-20, 25-21, 25-20). Harding had 43 kills in the match and hit .307 on 101 attempts.
“Especially these past couple of games we’re really found our groove, so we’ve been working really well together. We were disappointed with last season, so this season we came in ready to win,” Poen said.
Harding was led by Hardin and sophomore outside hitter Emily Clayton who each had 10 kills for the Lady Bisons. Hardin hit .562 and added seven blocks. She had 10 blocks against HSU earlier this season.
The Harding defense was led by Lake who had 13 digs. Nolan added 11 digs and also had three blocks.
“We’ve hit a point in the season where we’re really connecting as a team and really understand how the people next to us play. It was a matter of us coming together as a team and deciding we were going to do our best,” Lake said.
The Lady Bisons played their last two regular season games against Arkansas Tech University and the University of Arkansas at Monticello on Nov. 8 and Nov. 10, respectively. Results were not available at press time. Harding will play in the GAC Tournament starting on Thursday, Nov. 17 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
