Volleyball Hosts Harding and Arkansas Tech in Crucial Stretch

SHAWNEE – After picking up wins over Southern Nazarene and East Central last week, Oklahoma Baptist volleyball looks to remain perfect in Great American Conference action when it hosts Harding (Oct. 1) and Arkansas Tech (Oct. 2) in a pair of matches that will have a massive impact on the GAC regular-season title race.

The Bison (13-4, 5-0 GAC) are looking for their best start in conference play in the Division II er while Harding (14-2, 4-1) and Arkansas Tech (10-7, 4-1) are hoping to take the top spot in the conference standings. OBU will host face Harding at 7 p.m. on Thursday before taking on the Golden Suns at 4 p.m. on Friday.

Fans can watch all the action live on the GAC Sports Network or follow along with live stats. More storylines are available in this week's match notes.

CHASING THE BEST START

• Oklahoma Baptist has opened GAC play with five consecutive victories for the second straight season.
• A victory over Harding would give OBU its best conference start of the NCAA Division II era at 6-0.
• The Bison began GAC play 5-0 in 2025 before suffering their first conference loss at Harding.
• The Bison have swept three of their first five GAC opponents.
• OBU has won 15 of 18 sets during conference competition.
• Since entering the GAC in 2014, Oklahoma Baptist has finished no worse than sixth, and has been in the top three eight different times, including first place finishes in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.

PINK OUT

• Thursday's match against Harding will be OBU's annual Pink Out game to support the fight against cancer. Fans can donate to the Side-Out Foundation on behalf of Bison volleyball.
• Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game and the team will recognize cancer survivors throughout the match, including a special video featuring OBU's volleyball student-athletes.

SCOUTING HARDING

• Harding enters the week at 14-2 overall and 4-1 in GAC play.
• HU is 5-0 at home, 3-2 on the road and 6-0 at neutral sites.
• Harding has won two consecutive matches.
• HU is hitting .235 while holding opponents to .123.
• Harding averages 13.98 kills, 12.75 assists, 17.95 digs, 1.64 aces and 1.78 blocks per set.
• Harding has won 10 matches in straight sets and owns a 10-1 record in three-set contests.
• Melaina Haines leads HU with 164 kills. Philomina Klotz has recorded 140 kills while hitting .397. Olivia Wiedower has distributed 584 assists and averages 10.43 per set. 
• Mallory Weyand leads the HU defense with 242 digs. Rauly Eason leads Harding with 46 total blocks.

SCOUTING ARKANSAS TECH

• Arkansas Tech enters the week at 10-7 overall and 4-1 in GAC play.
• The Golden Suns are 2-1 at home, 2-3 on the road and 6-3 at neutral sites.
• Arkansas Tech won its first four conference matches before falling to Harding.
• The Golden Suns are hitting .211 while allowing opponents to hit .185.
• Arkansas Tech averages 12.56 kills, 11.63 assists, 16.74 digs, 1.63 aces and 1.74 blocks per set.
• Henley Hooks leads the Golden Suns with 191 kills.
• Erika Hernandez has recorded 160 kills while hitting .433.
• Hernandez also leads Arkansas Tech with 45 total blocks.
• Kenzie Garrett leads the setting rotation with 412 assists and 21 aces.
• Karis Brinlee anchors the back row with 263 digs.