HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Courtney Bolf and Zuzana Ondruskova recorded double-doubles, while Abby Blackburn and Taylor Scalzi combined for 43 assists, but it wasn't enough, as the Reddies fell to top-seeded Harding in the GAC Championship match, 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 20-25, 21-25).
The loss ends Henderson State's most successful season in over 15 years, as the Reddies won 28 matches for the first time since 2001. The Reddies (28-6) also reached the championship match of its conference tournament for the first time since 2001. Originally picked to finish ninth in the GAC in the preseason, Henderson went 13-3 in conference matches before bowing out one win short of the NCAA Tournament.
Senior captain Zuzana Ondruskova tallied 12 kills and 19 digs in her final match for HSU. Every other player on the team returns in 2019.
SET ONE
Both the Lady Bisons and the Reddies went back-and-forth in the opening points of the match. With the Bisons leading 5-4, the Reddies made their first run, using a 5-1 spurt behind kills from Hartmann and Ondruskova to go in front 9-6. However, Harding came right back at the Reddies behind a 5-1 run of its own to retake an 11-10 advantage. The Reddies tied the score at 11, but another 5-1 run from HU gave Harding its biggest lead of the set, 16-12. The Reddies regrouped quickly, however, and used two kills from Bolf to tie the set at 16-16. HU won five of the next seven points, putting Henderson in a three-point hole, 21-18. The Reddies stormed back, though, with a 6-1 run to push HU to set point. A final Bolf kill gave Henderson the 1-0 lead in the match, 25-23.
SET TWO
Henderson used its momentum from the first set to jump out to a quick 9-3 lead in the second frame, but it didn't last long. Harding scored five-straight to pull within one and eventually tied the score at 12-12. The Reddies took a brief 13-12 lead, but the Lady Bisons countered with six in a row, to take a commanding 18-13 advantage. HSU pulled within two, 19-17, but Harding scored six of the final eight to tie the match with a 25-19 set win.
SET THREE
The Reddies got off to a fast start for the second set in a row, as two kills from Greene helped HSU jump in front 6-1. Once again however, Harding chipped away at Henderson's lead and eventually tied it at 10-10. The Reddies pulled in front 12-10, but the Lady Bisons came back with an 8-2 run to regain an 18-14 lead. Both teams traded jabs the rest of the set, but HSU was unable to get within three points, as Harding took a 2-1 lead, 25-20.
SET FOUR
Once again, the Reddies had a fast start in the fourth frame and found themselves in front 5-1. Unfortunately, for the third-straight set, the lead was short-lived, as Harding tied it at 5-5. HSU won three points in a row to make the score 8-5, but Harding responded with an 8-0 run to take control, 13-8. The Reddies went on a 5-1 run to tie the score at 14-14, but Harding pulled away down the stretch, sealing the match, and the championship, with a 25-21 win.
