The Rhodes-Reaves Field House was electric on Thursday night as the Harding volleyball team secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Great American Conference rival Arkansas Tech. In a match that spanned two hours and 11 minutes, the Lady Bisons clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming GAC Tournament with a final set score of 15-11. The win pushed Harding to a 23-4 overall record and a 13-3 mark in conference play, keeping their momentum alive during a nine-match winning streak that stretches back to Oct. 8.
The stakes were clear heading into the final regular-season home game. Beyond the conference implications, the evening served as a tribute to seniors Avery Stanfill, Payton Hilmer, and Olivia Wiedower. It was a milestone night for Wiedower, who officially surpassed 4,000 career assists. Orchestrating the offense, she finished the night with 47 assists, 12 digs, two service aces, and a kill.
A Balanced Offensive Front
Harding’s success this season has been built on a foundation of distributed production, and this match was no exception. Melaina Haines and Philomina Klotz led the charge with 15 kills apiece, while Addie Worley delivered a notable double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs. Ella Drake also contributed significantly, logging 10 kills, 11 digs, and three blocks. Defensively, libero Mallory Weyand anchored the back row, recording a team-high 25 digs.
The ebb and flow of the match mirrored the competitive intensity of the Great American Conference. After Harding took the first set 25-21, Arkansas Tech countered with a 25-21 win in the second. Harding pushed ahead in the third, winning 25-19, but the Golden Suns refused to fold. Arkansas Tech, led by Madison Crum and Henley Hooks, surged in the fourth set to force a decisive fifth frame. In the race to 15, Harding’s early 5-1 lead proved just enough, with a final kill from Worley—set up by Wiedower—sealing the outcome.
Looking Toward Enid
With the regular season concluded, the focus now shifts to Enid, Oklahoma. The GAC Tournament is slated for November 11-13, and Harding enters the bracket as the No. 2 seed. They are scheduled to face No. 7 seed Southern Nazarene in the opening round on Wednesday, November 11, at 12:30 p.m.
Arkansas Tech falls to 16-12 overall and 10-6 in conference action. As the Lady Bisons prepare for the trip to Oklahoma, they carry the confidence of a nine-game winning streak.
Whether this momentum holds through the tournament in Enid remains the question for the program as they seek to capitalize on a season that has already yielded 23 wins.
