ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State is currently sporting a two-match winning streak after posting its first sweep of the season against Southern Arkansas on Mar. 2. The Reddies will put that streak to the test when they head to Searcy, Arkansas to take on No. 9 Harding Tuesday, Mar. 9 at 6 p.m.
 
Henderson State (3-3, 3-3)
Despite winning 3-0 in the last outing against Southern Arkansas, Henderson State had to fight in every set, only outscoring SAU by a total of 75-68. Violeta Mendoza Quintana was the leading performer for HSU, registering nine kills and five service aces.
 
Abby Blackburn had herself 22 set assists in the victory, bringing her career total to 1699. Tuesday against Harding, Blackburn has the opportunity to become only the eighth Reddie all-time to reach 1700 assists. The senior from Leawood, Kansas, sits in eighth place on the all-time list and 530 short of Terri Shurtleff in seventh (2229).
 
Mya Robinson leads the Reddies in kills with 64 – 2.78 per set – while freshman Christiane Uzoh has a team-high .140 hitting percentage on a minimum of 100 total attacks. Bree Sanders has 18 total blocks to spearhead the Reddies defense, aided by Kaitlyn Sykes who has three solo blocks this season.
 
In order for Henderson State to get above .500 on the season, it will have to do something it has never done: beat Harding on the road. Since 1993, HSU is 0-17 when facing the Lady Bisons inside Rhodes-Reaves Field House. The Reddies are 1-2 on the road this season.
 
Harding Lady Bisons (6-0, 6-0)
There are few teams in the country who are better than Harding. Namely, eight. Coming in as the No. 9 team in the country in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Coaches poll, Harding has only relinquished one set all season, posting five sweeps, including against Henderson State in the first matchup.
 
The Lady Bisons' potent offense is led by Sarah Morehead and her 199 assists this season. Through six matches, she is averaging 33.2 assists per match and 10.5 per set. Libby Hinton has found herself the leading beneficiary of Morehead's assists, delivering a team-high 56 kills, followed by Ally Stoner with 52. Hinton also leads the team with a .328 hitting percentage on 128 total attacks.
 
Dating back to last year, Harding has won five straight home matches in which it has not given up a single set. The last time a set was scored against Harding inside Rhodes Reaves Field House came on Oct. 19, 2019. The Lady Bisons are 83-11 on their home floor since 2011.