ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — After dropping its first game in the month of September, Henderson State will look to return to its winning ways when the Reddies host back-to-back matches against Oklahoma Baptist and Southern Nazarene on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and on Saturday at 2 p.m in the Duke Wells Center. 

Henderson (15-3, 4-1) had its 14-match winning streak snapped when the Reddies fell to first-place Harding 3-1 on Monday night. However, HSU remains in a comfortable position for postseason play, as the Reddies are tied for second place in the GAC. 

The Reddies have been getting it done both offensively and defensively this season. As a team, Henderson ranks second in the GAC in attacking percentage (.236) and leads the league in blocks by a wide margin, with 153 total blocks and an average of 2.43 blocks per set. No other team in the league averages two or more blocks per set. 

Individually, Adrianna Hartman leads the GAC in attacking percentage (.418) and is the only player in the league with a percentage of .400 or better. Karlie Greene leads the conference in blocks per set (1.13) and has 68 total blocks this season. Courtney Bolf is second in the league in kills per set (3.53), while Gigi Garramone is 8th in digs per set (4.15) and Taylor Scalzi is ninth in assists per set (6.07).

Scouting Oklahoma Baptist
The Oklahoma Baptist Lady Bison (11-10, 4-1) bring a modest overall record into Friday's matchup with the Reddies after a sluggish start to the 2018 campaign. OKBU went just 3-6 through the first nine games of the season but has won six of its last eight games to get above the .500 mark. Oklahoma Baptist's turnaround has included an impressive 4-1 start to conference play, with the only setback coming in a five-set heartbreaker against Southern Nazarene. The Lady Bison are led sophomore outside hitter Mikayla Watson, who was named Second Team All-GAC in 2017. Head Coach Anna Howle has racked up an impressive record during her time in Shawnee, going 272-115 and taking home three Coach of the Year awards. The Reddies are looking for their first victory against OKBU since the inception of the GAC.

Scouting Southern Nazarene
The Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm (11-9, 3-2) also had a slow start to the season, but have since rebounded, and are 5-1 in their last six matches. The Crimson Storm are tied for fifth place in the current GAC standings, but a loss could send them careening into the bottom half of the conference, as three teams have a 2-3 league record. SNU's player to watch is junior outside hitter Bailee Turang. Turang was a First Team All-GAC selection in 2017 when she led the GAC in kills per set (3.79) and points per set (4.15). SNU's setter, Kylie Smith, is also one of the top returners in the league and was an honorable mention All-GAC pick last season when she finished fourth in the conference in assists. Head coach Kevin Ingram is one of the most tenured coaches in the GAC across all sports. He is half-way through his 18th season at the helm of SNU volleyball. During his tenure in Bethany, Ingram has amassed 360 wins. 

HSU Statistical Leaders:
Junior, Courtney Bolf – 212 Kills
Freshman, Taylor Scalzi – 364 Assists
Junior, Gigi Garramone – 253 Digs
Juniors, Karlie Greene, Adrianna Hartmann – 68 Blocks

OKBU Statistical Leaders:
Sophomore, Mikayla Watson – 236 Kills  
Freshman, Jenna Gremmel – 544 Assists 
Sophomore, Kelsi Chavez – 303 Digs
Sophomore, Brecken Roquemore – 59 Blocks

SNU Statistical Leaders:
Junior, Bailee Turang – 277 Kills  
Junior, Kylie Smith – 742 Assists 
Freshman, Logan Matthews – 303 Digs
Senior, Makenna Hunter – 39 Blocks