ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Henderson State University volleyball team (1-6) will battle Harding University (5-4) Tuesday, Sept. 17th, to open conference play in Searcy Ark. at 7p.m.

For the third straight year, HSU and HU will begin Great American Conference action facing each other, with Harding leading the overall series 43-22.

Henderson State
Henderson State is coming off its first win of the 2013 season, edging Oklahoma Panhandle State in five sets last Friday night. The Lady Reddies were led by juniors Sarah Williams (Conroe, Texas) and Raegan Large (Montgomery, Texas). HSU also competed in the Hampton Inn Invitational on Saturday, falling 3-0, to West Alabama and Union University.

HSU will look forward to the return of junior middle blocker Jessica Moss (Garland, Texas), who was away this weekend due to her grandmother's death.

Katrina Goulbourne (Jr., Visalia, Calif.) is the team leader in total kills with 49, with Cheyenne Derr (Sr., Mansfield, Ark.) just behind with 32.

Taylor Thompson (Jr., Yuba City, Calif.) has been the rock as the Lady Reddies setter, dishing 154 assists, averaging 6.70 per set. Fellow junior Lindsey Calabrese (San Jose, Calif.) tops HSU's dig count with 68. The libero also has totaled eight aces so far this year.

Harding
Harding is coming off a 4-1 week, traveling to Jackson, Tenn., winning, 3-1 and participating in the North Alabama Tournament. The Lady Bison's won its first three matches but fell to Northwood 3-2 to close out the tournament.

HU is led by senior outside hitter Mollie Arnold who averages 4.08 kills per game and 2.92 digs per set.

Defensively, the Lady Bisons are led by senior defensive specialist Lisa Copeland, who averages 4.78 digs per set and junior middle blocker Liv Savage, who averages 1.14 blocks per set.

Last Year's Meeting
In both meetings in 2012, Harding came out on top, sweeping the series 3-0, 3-0. In the first match on Sept. 11, HSU was unmatched in kills 42-19, losing 25-17, 25-17 and 25-11. Moss and Derr combined for only four kills but was a wall at the net blocking six Lady Bison attack attempts.

On the Oct. 2 battle, Harding rolled over the Lady Reddies, 25-11, 25-9 and 25-9 and holding HSU to .000 attack percentage. Harding powered its way past the HSU defense, earning a stellar .365 attack percentage for its 43rd win over Henderson State in the all-time series meetings.

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