Box Score HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Despite playing a near error-free match, the Ouachita Tigers fell to Harding in the opening round of the GAC Tournament 3-1. Ouachita had five players with double digits in kills and Tara Wait had a season-high 54 assists with no set errors.

Ouachita came out aggressive early in set one, building a 13-7 lead. Tigers were nearly error free on their attacks in the first half of set one. Harding fought their way back though and pulled ahead 17-16. The Lady Bisons closed out the first set with an 8-4 run to take the set 25-20. Tara Wait had 12 assists for the Tigers in set one.

Harding came out strong in set two, leading 10-5 before the Tigers would respond. Madeline Walls led the Tiger attack with five kills on 11 attacks. Tara Wait continued to set her hitters perfectly through the second set, adding 15 assists to her totals in the second set. The Ouachita defense did its job in handling the Harding attack in set two, holding them to a .082 attack percentage.

Both teams hit the ball well in set three, committing only a combined five attack errors in the set. Kelley Ballard and Kori Bullard led the Ouachita attack with three and four kills respectively. Harding's slight advantage in kills were the difference in the set. Liv Savage had seven kills in the set for the Lady Bisons, leading them to a 25-22 win.

With set four tied at 8-8, Harding went on a 10-5 run to take an 18-13 lead. Ouachita cut the lead to three, trailing 21-18, on consecutive points by Kori Bullard on a solo block and a kill.  Harding scored the next four to take the set 25-19, and the match 3-1.

The Tigers finished with five players netting double-digits in kills. Kori Bullard led the Tigers with 12, Abby Pickett finished with 11 and Kelley Ballard, Stephanie Pollnow and Madeline Walls each had 10.

Tara Wait finished with a season-high 54 assists and 14 digs. Ashley Wake and Jayme Shell led the Tigers with 23 and 21 digs respectively.

Ouachita finishes the season 16-10.