Alva Review-Courier -

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Harding volleyball team fell to eighth-ranked Arkansas Tech 3-2 (25-17, 25-20, 21-25,20-25, 15-11) Saturday in the finals of the Great American Conference Tournament at Bank of the Ozarks Arena.

The Lady Bisons, the No. 2 seed, ends their season with a 27-6 record. Arkansas Tech, the No. 1 seed, improves to 35-0 on the season and will earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

Zoe Hardin and Rachel Heussner were named to the GAC All-Tournament Team.

FIRST SET

Harding took an 11-9 lead in the first set until Arkansas Tech went on a 9-1 run to lead 18-12. The Golden Suns went on to win 25-17. Harding hit .105 in the set and had six attack errors.

SECOND SET

Trailing 7-4 in the second set, Harding went on a 4-0 run to lead 8-7. Arkansas Tech quickly took back the lead on a 4-0 run. With the set tied at 11, Arkansas Tech went on a 7-1 run to lead 18-12. Harding pulled within three but Arkansas Tech won the set 25-20. Arkansas Tech hit .333with 12 kills.

THIRD SET

Harding took a 5-1 lead in the third set until Arkansas Tech tied the set at five with a 4-0 run. Trailing 15-14, the Lady Bisons went on an 11-6 run to win the set 25-21. Harding had 16 kills in the set and forced the Golden Suns to hit .107.

FOURTH SET

Harding jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the fourth set as it forced six Arkansas Tech attack errors. With the set tied at 15, Harding won the set after going on a 10-5 run, 25-20. Harding hit .333 in the set and forced 10 Arkansas Tech attack errors.

FIFTH SET

Harding trailed 7-6 until it went on a 4-0 run to lead 10-7. Arkansas Tech only allowed the Lady Bisons to score one more point as the Golden Suns won 15-11. Harding had three kills in the set and hit -.148 with seven attack errors.

STATS

Harding

- Harding had 51 kills and hit .124 in the match.

- The Lady Bisons were led by Taylor Mounts who had 17 kills. Zoe Hardin and Emma Reeves each had 10 kills.

- Rachel Heussner captured a double-double with 48 assists and 13 digs.

- Harding had 78 digs, led by Taylor Lake who had 18. Selena Foster added 17 and Taylor Eubank had 13.

- Harding had 13 blocks in the match, led by Zoe Hardin who had seven.

Arkansas Tech

- Arkansas Tech hit .163 in the match and had 64 kills and 33 attack errors.

- The Golden Suns were led by Allie Anderson who had 15 kills. Hunter Eshanur had 13 kills and Tabitha Spray had 12.

- Amanda Milnick captured a double-double with 47 assists and 14 digs. She also had eight kills.

- Madison Nagel had 34 digs in the match. Arkansas Tech had 84 total digs.