SAU outlasts Harding in 5-set thriller
The nightcap to the first day had prime-time action. Both sides took turns flying around the court and shutting each other down with defensive highlights before fourth-seeded Southern Arkansas outlasted fifth seed Harding 13-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 15-13 in the Great American Conference volleyball tournament Thursday at Bank of the Ozarks Arena.
Southern Arkansas beat Harding for the third time this year in the only first-round match involving two Arkansas teams and drawing the day’s largest crowd.
“The last two points weren’t enjoyable to watch, but it was really high level,” said Harding coach Meredith Fear, whose program won the 2012 GAC tournament among three straight final appearances. “The last two times we’ve played each other, it was just one team would shut down the other team. You look and one team is hitting negative one set and then they turn around and hit .300 or .200 the next. Southern Arkansas and us are just two teams that when we’re on, we’re really, really on, but when we’re not, we just have a hard time finding that consistency.”
Southern Arkansas (19-13) played its 13th five-set match of the season, winning the last three going the distance.
“We’ve had numerous fifth sets,” coach Steven Gream said. “We’ve had the experience of being here before, and we didn’t panic like we have in the past.”
Jnior Serena LeDuff took over in the decisive frame, recording four of her match-high 20 kills. She also had a service game that included an ace as SAU went up 6-3.
Harding bounced back to tie at 6, but SAU led the rest of the way, at one time 13-9. The Lady Bisons trimmed the deficit to 13-12, but LeDuff killed the Lady Muleriders’ final two points to close out the match.
“She was getting down with herself in the first set because she was hitting negative,” Gream said. “We told her to keep swinging because she is our first-team all-conference player. I think she finds a way to win.
She comes from a volleyball family, and she finds a way to win. That’s what she did tonight. She pushed us over.”
The Lady Bisons overwhelmed SAU in the opening set and almost went up by two sets before SAU scored the last five points of the second, aided by three Harding hitting errors.
SAU obliged with a late collapse in the third set, committing three straight errors before Harding’s Emily Clayton killed off set point. The Lady Muleriders showed resilience in the fourth, only trailing at 1-0 and leading the rest of the way after it was 8-8.
Both sides required mental toughness with each sharp defensively. The match saw a combined 225 digs and 20 total blocks, SAU libero Hannah Rice of Bryant recording a career-high 44 digs.
“We knew Harding was going to bring everything they had,” Gream said. “We knew they’re a good offensive team. They’re hitting just below us in season percentage, so we knew they were going to give us their ‘A’ game and I’m glad our kids stepped up. In order for us to win this game, we had to have those digs to get our hitters as many swings as we could.”
Fear dealt with the frustration of her team losing with 115 digs and 14 total blocks.
“Their defense was playing well, too,” Fear said. “We were both 100-plus on digs. We made some big defensive changes in our lineup for tonight, and so the fact that we did play well there and played with a lot of heart and a lot of tenacity, I’m really proud of them.”
Shelby Lauterbach recorded 15 kills for the Lady Muleriders, Emilie Reisner adding 10. Taylor Reaume triggered the offense with 48 assists.
Fear was pleased to see Marianna’s Molly Howard, Harding’s lone senior, tie Sara Smith for the team lead with 12 kills.
“That’s really good for her,” Fear said. “I’ve talked to her a lot about how a few years ago we had a group of kids that played together for several years. We had several classes of starters that by their junior and senior years is when we’d have those undefeated seasons. (Howard) was a part of that when she was younger and didn’t get to take part in that.
“This is the year we’re building up that new class of girls that will play together a really long time and start putting things together by their junior and senior years. This year might be rough, but her leadership will play a big role in our later success.”
Clayton and Zoe Hardin added 11 kills apiece, Howard and Abigail Glosup each recording 23 digs and Glosup 36 assists. Hardin (6-2) formed a middle wall, recording five total blocks.