Harding Volleyball Beats Arkansas Tech 3-2 to Secure No. 2 GAC Seed

Lady Bisons Outlast Arkansas Tech in Five-Set Thriller to Lock Up No. 2 Seed

The Harding volleyball team held off Great American Conference rival Arkansas Tech 3-2 with scores of 25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 21-25, and 15-11 on Thursday night inside Rhodes-Reaves Field House, securing the No. 2 seed in the upcoming conference tournament.

According to hardingsports.com, the regular-season finale victory pushed the Lady Bisons to 23-4 overall and 13-3 in conference play. The win also marked Harding’s ninth straight victory dating back to Oct. 8. Meanwhile, Arkansas Tech slipped to 16-12 overall and 10-6 in conference action after a grueling two-hour and 11-minute battle.

Senior setter Olivia Wiedower reached a major career milestone during the marathon match by eclipsing 4,000 career assists. Wiedower engineered the Harding attack with 47 assists, 12 digs, two service aces, and a kill. Following the match, the program honored Wiedower alongside fellow seniors Avery Stanfill and Payton Hilmer.

2026 Harding Volleyball Highlights vs. Arkansas Tech

Balanced Offense and Down-to-the-Wire Sets

Harding leaned on a balanced offensive attack to outlast the Golden Suns. Melaina Haines and Philomina Klotz paced the team with 15 kills apiece. Addie Worley delivered a double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs, while Ella Drake added 10 kills, 11 digs, and three blocks. On the defensive side, libero Mallory Weyand anchored the back row with a team-high 25 digs, and Maddie Burrough contributed eight digs and two service aces.

The opening set established the competitive tone of the night, featuring 12 ties and four lead changes. Locked at 21-21, Harding manufactured a 4-0 run behind a kill from Haines and back-to-back kills from Worley to claim the first frame 25-21. Arkansas Tech fired back in the second set, utilizing 12 kills and a mid-set surge to win 25-21 and even the match. Harding regained the upper hand in the third frame, capitalizing on strong serving and timely blocks to secure a 25-19 win.

Refusing to back down, the Golden Suns erased an early deficit in the fourth set. Powered by Madison Crum and Henley Hooks, Arkansas Tech strung together an eight-point run to build an 18-11 cushion before holding on for a 25-21 decision, forcing a decisive fifth set.

Lady Bisons Seal Fifth Set Victory to Reach Conference Tournament

In the race to 15 points, Harding grabbed the early momentum. With Burrough serving, the Lady Bisons reeled off three straight points, capped by a service ace and a Klotz kill, to jump out to a 5-1 lead. Arkansas Tech clawed back within two points at 11-9, but Harding answered with crucial kills from Lauren Demuth to maintain separation. At match point, Wiedower fed Worley for her 14th kill of the night, sealing the 15-11 victory.

With the regular season in the books, the Lady Bisons advance to the Great American Conference Tournament, scheduled for Nov. 11-13 in Enid, Oklahoma. Harding will square off against No. 7 seed Southern Nazarene in the opening round on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 12:30 p.m.