Lady Bisons Bump UAM, 3-1

SEARCY – The Harding volleyball team moved one step closer to a West Division title Thursday after defeating Arkansas-Monticello in Gulf South Conference action, 3-1. Harding stays in first place in the West Division and improves to 25-6 on the season, 9-1 in the GSC West Division.

Harding started out strong in the first set going up 4-0 but Arkansas-Monticello quickly tied the set at 4-4. Three attack errors by the Lady Bisons let the Cotton Blossoms take a 7-6 lead. UAM went on an 8-1 run to go up 17-15 and didn’t look back, taking the first set, 25-23. After the first set, each team had a .000 hitting percentage. Between the two teams 18 errors were committed.

In the second set, Harding again jumped out to a take an early lead but UAM once again battled their way back in it, tying the set 13-13. The Lady Bisons went on a 4-0 run and didn’t allow the Cotton Blossoms to get any closer than one, taking the set, 25-21.

The Lady Bisons started out the gate in a hurry in the third set, jumping out to a 6-1 run. The Cotton Blossoms tried to mount a comeback but the Harding defense didn’t allow it as the Lady Bisons took the set, 25-18.

Arkansas-Monticello looked to tie the match at two sets apiece in the fourth set taking a 4-0 lead but Harding quickly went on an 8-0 run to lead 8-4. UAM mounted a comeback going on a 6-0 run to take a 13-11 lead. Harding took back the lead going up 20-16 and didn’t look back, taking the set 25-19.

Freshman setter Amber Schinzing led the Lady Bisons with 42 assists and 14 digs to capture her first career double-double. The Lady Bisons looked to the seniors in the match as Manuela Nesheva had 25 kills, Samantha Anderson had 10 kills and Sarah Phipps had 13 digs for Harding. Junior Emily Tate continued to lead the Lady Bisons on defense digging 21 balls. It was the ninth time this season Tate has had over 20 digs in a match.

The Cotton Blossoms didn’t have any player in double-figure kills on the night but had three players with nine kills. Sara Kindred was one of the three and she also had a team high 18 digs. Stephanie Hatten had 17 digs for UAM.

Harding is back in action Tuesday, hosting Henderson State next Tuesday at 7 p.m., in a crucial GSC matchup. Before the match the Lady Bisons will be honoring the 2009 seniors.

Lady Bisons sweep CBU

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Harding volleyball team completed the sweep of Christian Brothers Tuesday 3-0 in Gulf South Conference action. The Lady Bisons improve to 24-6 on the season and 8-1 in the GSC West Division.

The Lady Bisons got a quick start out of the gate, taking an 11-2 lead in the first set. The Lady Bucs battled their way back to come within four but the Harding took the set, 25-19.

Harding fell behind early in the second set, trailing 5-1 but a Lady Bisons 10-2 run took the lead back. CBU pulled within two but Harding quickly went on an 8-0 run and took the set, 25-17.

The two teams battled for the lead in the third set until Harding broke away on a 6-2 run going up 16-10. The Lady Bucs tried to mount a comeback but the Lady Bisons offense put the match away on three straight points, taking the set 25-17.

Harding had 12 service aces in the match, tying a season high. Junior Emily Tate and senior Manuela Nesheva both contributed four aces for the Lady Bisons.

The Lady Bisons were led offensively by Nesheva who had 11 kills in the match. Tate led the defense with 16 digs.

Hanna Orendorff led the Lady Bucs with 10 kills.

Harding is back in action Thursday hosting Arkansas-Monticello, who is currently second behind the Lady Bisons in the GSC West Division, at 7 p.m., in the Rhodes Field House.

Harding Harriers Gather Gold

Bisons – Hoover, AL—Harding University successfully defended its Gulf South Conference Men’s Cross Country Championship on Saturday at Veteran’s Park in Hoover, Alabama.

HU topped the 11-team field with 31 points, capturing its ninth overall Conference crown. West Georgia posted its highest finish since 2005, placing second with 68 points, while Alabama-Huntsville followed at third-place (73). West Florida (125) and Southern Arkansas (135) rounded out the Top Five, followed by Christian Brothers (6th, 168) and West Alabama (7th, 183). Completing the field were Valdosta State (8th, 205), Henderson State (9th, 236), North Alabama (10th, 249) and Arkansas-Monticello (11th, 355).

Harding placed four runners in the top six, led by Daniel Kirwa who became the first runner since 2003 to repeat as the GSC Individual Medalist via a time of 25:47. HU’s Philip Biwott finished second (25:55), followed by UAH’s Josh Moshier (26:17) and HSU’s Gabriel Ghioca (26:24). Harding duo Manase Busienei (26:32) and Reese Jackson (26:33) ranked fifth and sixth, respectively.

Rounding out the list of All-GSC First Team finishers was UWG’s Dan Moffit (7th, 26:33), Alabama-Huntsville’s Will Rodgers (8th, 26:43), West Georiga’s Robert Fensterer (26:44) and UWF’s Eddie Pagan (26:47). Fensterer garnered GSC Freshman of the Year laurels as the highest freshman finisher.

Second Team All-GSC honors went to the 11th through 20th place finishers: UAH’s Stevie Dolan (11th, 26:49); UWG’s Jake Hudson (12th, 26:50); CBU’s Nate Spears (13th, 26:57); UNA’s Hirbo Hirbo (14th, 26:59); West Georgia’s Shawn Mathews (15th, 27:00); UWA’s Jonathan Sellers (16th, 27:03), HU’s Justin Kutter (17th, 27:04); UAH’s Samson Too (18th, 27:07); West Florida’s Jared Black (19th, 27:15) and Harding’s Ryan Johnson (20th, 27:16).

Lady Bisons – Hoover, AL—Harding University tied a Gulf South Conference Women’s Cross Country record on Saturday, winning its fifth consecutive league Title at Veteran’s Park in Hoover, AL.

HU’s 22-point total was the best mark in the Conference event since the Lady Bisons posted 19 points in 2006. The Championship also upped Harding’s all-time leading total to eight.

Second-place West Florida (85) also made headlines, earning its highest finish since winning the event in 1996. Arkansas Tech (109) and West Georgia (119) each repeated last year’s efforts, while West Alabama (160) completed the Top Five thanks to its highest-ever finish.

Rounding out the Top 10 was No. 6 Alabama-Huntsville (1163), Valdosta State (188), Ouachita Baptist (246), North Alabama (255) and Southern Arkansas (263). Completing the 14-team results was No. 11 Henderson State (265) followed by Delta State (276), Christian Brothers (349) and Arkansas-Monticello (372).

Harding led the way individually, placing five runners in the Top 10. Katy Grant jumped from seventh-place last year to first-place in 2009, earning GSC Individual Medalist honors with a time of 18:40. ATU’s Bailee Miller showed why she was a five-time GSC Runner of the Week, coming in at second-place (18:42) and earning the GSC Freshman of the Year award. Third through fifth-place were provided by the Lady Bisons: Esther Kosgei (19:00), Gladys Kimtai (19:01) and Rysper Sirma (19:15). Wrapping up the First Team was UWF’s Bailee Hedstrom (6th, 19:27), HU’s Mary Samoei (7th, 19:36), UWA’s Carolyn Mancuso (8th, 19:45) and Harding duo Naomi Landecker (9th, 19:52) and Laura Lovett (10th, 19:54).

Second Team All-GSC accolades went to the 11th through 20th place finishers: VSU’s Angelina Horne (11th, 19:57); UWG’s Megan Jacobs (12th, 19:57); Arkansas Tech’s Mellissa Pollreis (13th, 19:58); UNA’s Teresa Hea (14th, 20:04); SAU’s Michaela Krcova (15th, 20:07); HU’s Gosia Hightower (16th, 20:12); UAH’s Gwen Kyser (17th, 20:13); UWG’s Briana Crawford (18th, 20:19) and UWF duo Kelbe Beck (19th, 20:19) and Megan Steinocher (20th, 20:24).

NO. 4 HARDING ACADEMY 34, RIVERVIEW 6

SEARCY — Seth Keese ran for three touchdowns and passed for another to lead No. 4 Harding Academy (8-0, 5-0 2-3A).

Keese ran for 102 yards on 9 carries and completed 15 of 18 passes for 221 yards. He opened the scoring with a 6-yard run 2:30 into the game. He followed that with a 39-yard scoring pass to Tyler Gentry with just under a minute left in the quarter.

In the second quarter, the Wildcats sandwiched scoring runs of 19 and 4 yards by Keese around an 8-yard touchdown run by David Brooker.

Wildcat kicker Josh Spears made good on 4 of 5 extra points and kept the Raiders deep in their own territory with his 6 kickoffs.

Riverview, which fell to 2-3 in conference play, scored on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Eric Willis to Ben Overstreet with 1:41 left in the game.

Lady Bisons Wreck Tech

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Harding volleyball team swept past Arkansas Tech on Thursday in Gulf South Conference action, 3-0. Harding moves 22-5 overall and 7-1 in GSC play.

With the win, Harding stays in first place in the GSC West Division and widens the gap between first and second. Arkansas-Monticello moved into the second spot after the Arkansas Tech loss. Whoever wins the GSC West Division, will host the GSC Tournament.

In the first set, Harding jumped out to a 9-5 lead but ATU pulled within one on a 4-1 run. The Lady Bisons then went on a 6-1 run to go up 17-11 but the Golden Suns battled their way back into the set, tying the set 24-24. Harding put the set away on two straight kills to take 26-24 win.

The Lady Bisons again jumped out in the second set to take a 15-8 lead and didn’t look back taking the set, 25-17.

In the third set, the two teams battled for the lead through the middle of the set. The Lady Bisons took a three point lead on back-to-back ATU attack errors. The Golden Suns would get the points back on two HU attack errors to tie the set, 24-24. Harding put the set away on two straight points to take the set 26-24.

Harding was led by senior outside hitter Manuela Nesheva who picked up her 34th career double-double with 17 kills and 11 digs. Fellow senior Sarah Phipps was the other Lady Bison in double-figures with 12 kills and nine digs. The Lady Bisons defense was led by Emily Tate who had 16 digs on the night.

Arkansas Tech (19-11, 6-3 GSCW) was led by Sarah Von Lienen who had 13 kills.

The Goldens suns had a total of 30 errors in the match.

The Lady Bisons take a break from GSC action and will host Missouri S&T and Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday. Harding will face Missouri S&T at 1 p.m., and Arkansas-Fort Smith at 6 p.m., in the Rhodes Field House.

Lady Bisons Win Two, Lose Two in Orlando

Sunday 10/18 ORLANDO, Fla. – The Harding volleyball team finished the Rollins Regional Tournament on a high note Sunday defeating Valdosta State, 3-2 and sweeping host team Rollins, 3-0. The Lady Bisons improve to 21-5 on the season.

Freshman setter Amber Schinzing led the Lady Bisons offense with a total of 85 assists and captured a career high 44 assists against Rollins.

In the first match against Gulf South Conference East Division foe Valdosta State, the Lady Bisons fell behind early in the first set but tried to claw their way back but the Lady Blazers took set one, 25-21. Harding jumped out and took set two, 25-20. The Lady Bisons again found themselves trailing in set three but a last ditch effort wasn’t enough dropping set three, 25-19. In set four, the Lady Bisons trailed 18-16 but a late rally on a 9-3 run gave them the set, 25-21. Harding jumped out to take a commanding 13-5 lead in the fifth set and went onto take the set, 15-11.

Senior Sarah Phipps led Harding with 17 kills and nine digs in the match. Junior Emily Tate led the Lady Bisons defense with 16 digs.

Valdosta State had had 70 kills in the match but had 29 hitting errors. The Lady Blazers had four players in double-figure kills. Leading the way was Ruthie King who had 20 kills. She also picked up 11 digs in the match.

In the final match of the tournament, Harding fell behind early in set one but battled back and closed the set on an 8-5 run for a 25-22 score. In set two, the Lady Bisons jumped out to take a quick 15-6 lead and didn’t look back taking the set, 25-19. Harding again led 15-8 in the third set but Rollins battled back to come within two, 23-21. Harding quickly had two kills for the third set win.

Phipps captured a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs in the match. Fellow senior Manuela Nesheva had 15 kills in the match. Schinzing had a career high 12 digs for the Lady Bisons.

Nikki Hartman was the only Rollins player in double-figure kills with 12.

Saturday 10/17 ORLANDO, Fla. – The Harding volleyball team dropped two matches Saturday in the Rollins Regional Tournament in Orlando, Fla. The Lady Bisons fell to Lynn, 3-2 and #14 Saint Leo, 3-0. Harding falls to 19-5 on the season.

In the first match against Lynn, Harding came out of the gate taking the first two sets, 25-10 and 25-12. The Fighting Knights had a .000 hitting percentage in the first two sets. Lynn bounced back taking the next three sets for the win. It was the first time this season Harding has won the first two sets and lost the match.

Harding was led by senior outside hitter Sarah Phipps who captured a double-double with 10 kills and 18 digs. Fellow senior Manuela Nesheva added 19 kills to the Harding total of 48. Junior Emily Tate led the Harding defense with 21 digs. It was the seventh time this season she has ended with more than 20 digs in a match. Tate also had five service aces. Harding had a season high eight blocks in the match.

Katie Bradley led the Fighting Knights with 17 kills. Devon Woolard led the Lynn defense with 19 digs.

In the final match of the day, Harding kept the first set close until Saint Leo went on an 8-1 run to take the first set, 25-13. The Lions jumped out to a 14-5 lead in the second set and didn’t look back as they took the set, 25-14. Harding rallied in the third set, taking a 13-11 lead but Saint Leo went on a 5-1 run to go up 16-14. Harding tied the set at 17-17 but the Lions quickly took back the lead and didn’t allow the Lady Bisons to get any closer than one as they took the set, 27-25.

Manuela led the Lady Bisons in the match with 10 kills. Tate led the defense with 17 digs.

Saint Leo had two players that ended with double-figure kills. Kaitlin McKenna and Emily Calderon-Reyes each had 12 kills for the Lions. Both players hit for over a .400 percentage, and as a team had a .321 hitting percentage.

Harding University bans students from lottery play

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEARCY — Harding University has decided to prohibit students from buying lottery tickets, reversing its earlier policy.  Harding, a liberal arts Christian school in Searcy affiliated with the Church of Christ, had decided in August to make an exception for the new lottery in its gambling prohibition.

But President David Burks said Friday during the school’s daily chapel services that he believes making the exception was a mistake. The school will include the lottery in its rule prohibiting students from gambling on or off campus.

“My intention was to express in our policy the reality that it will be very difficult to enforce any prohibition against the lottery,” Burks said in a statement released by the school. “In an attempt to avoid one appearance of hypocrisy, I made a decision that has itself come to be viewed as hypocritical.”

Arkansas began a lottery on Sept. 28 with the sale of scratch-off tickets. The state will begin selling Powerball tickets Oct. 31. The games are expected to raise $100 million annually for college scholarships.

The scholarships posed a problem for private colleges affiliated with churches around the state, which often require students to follow a code of conduct on and off campus.

Ouachita Baptist University, which is in Arkadelphia, has said it considers the lottery to be included in its ban against gambling. The school is affiliated with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.

John Brown University, a private nondenominational Christian college in Siloam Springs, strongly discourages students from gambling and bans it on campus. But the university’s officials have said there likely would be little punishment for students who did play lottery tickets on campus.

Arkansas State University at Jonesboro, the University of Central Arkansas at Conway and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville prohibit students from gambling on university property. But officials with those schools have said they believe the ban would only apply to buying tickets on campus, not actually scratching them off there.

Burks, Harding’s president, said that students caught playing the lottery would face at least a written or verbal reprimand under the school’s policy. “It is important to me that all people, both here and away from campus, know that Harding University stands firmly against gambling,” Burks said.

Harding University is the largest private school in the state. The Arkansas Department of Higher Education’s preliminary fall semester enrollment report shows that Harding has 6,486 students.

SEARCY 40, JACKSONVILLE 14

SEARCY – Mike Brown and Desmond Stegall each ran for two touchdowns as Searcy (3-4, 2-2) beat Jacksonville (2-5, 1-3) in 6A-East Conference action.

The homecoming game for Searcy was the Lions’ first “home” game of the season as the light poles in Lion Stadium had been determined defective just prior to the start of the season and new ones were finally in place.

Brown scored on two 4-yard runs. Both of Stegall’s scores came on 1-yard runs. Jared Harriman ran 20 yards and Hayden Mercer had a 14-yard run for Searcy’s other touchdowns.

Jacksonville’s touchdowns came on runs by Dvone McClure and Devin Featherston.

NO. 4 HARDING ACADEMY 42, MAYFLOWER 6

MAYFLOWER — Junior quarterback Seth Keese ran for two touchdowns, threw a touchdown pass and returned an interception for another score in Harding Academy’s victory over Mayflower (3-4, 3-1) Thursday in 2-3A action at Patrick Stadium.

The Wildcats (7-0, 4-0 2-3A) led 28-0 at halftime and applied the Arkansas Activities Association’s sportsmanship rule after Keese threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jon Ford with 10:11 remaining in the third quarter.

The clock ran continuously after Josh Spears’ extra point. Spears connected on 4 of 5 extra points.

Keese rushed 11 times for 60 yards and 2 touchdowns (9 and 25 yards) and completed 14 of 18 passes for 159 yards and 1 touchdown. He also returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown to give Harding Academy a 15-0 lead with 8:59 remaining in the first quarter. Ben Lecrone scored Harding Academy’s first touchdown on a 2-yard run in the first quarter.

David Brooker scored on an 18-yard run with 7:50 left in the game to set the final margin. Mayflower averted the shutout on a 5-yard run by Demetris Lasker in the third quarter.

Statement on the Lottery – President David B. Burks – Harding University

Statement on the Lottery
President David B. Burks
Presented in Chapel Services Oct. 16, 2009

The newly implemented Arkansas State Lottery has been in the news in recent weeks, and Harding’s position on the Lottery has been the subject of several media reports. The way this issue has unfolded recently is why I am making this statement today.

I want to begin by saying, “I made a mistake, and I’m sorry.” As I know my own heart, I know it was not a mistake of intention, but it was a mistake of judgment. My intention was to express in our policy the reality that it will be very difficult to enforce any prohibition against the lottery. In an attempt to avoid one appearance of hypocrisy, I made a decision that has itself come to be viewed as hypocritical.

Much to my regret, the announcement that we were “not seeking to discipline students” for participation in the lottery was perceived in two ways that I did not intend. Some saw this as an indication that we did not view the lottery to be gambling. Everyone, including every proponent of the lottery, knows that playing the lottery is a form of gambling. Another misconception—and this one has been especially painful for me—is that Harding has “sold out” in exchange for scholarship money. Some have thought that we were actually endorsing the lottery, because Arkansas college students stand to receive scholarship money from the State of Arkansas, which has been generated by the lottery.

So today I need to make things clear about this issue. First, I have always believed that gambling is wrong; it is wrong to try to get something for nothing. I have taught this many times and in many ways through the years. The Bible is clear that every Christian should work for his or her living. Work, not luck, is the appropriate basis for one’s wealth. The stewardship of the blessings God provides us ought to be a core value for each Christian. I believe that honest, hard work fits into what the Book of Proverbs calls “the way of wisdom” and that gambling fits into what Proverbs regards as the way of “folly.” I also believe that gambling promotes social injustice because the negative consequences of gambling fall disproportionately on the poor and the desperate—the people who can least afford to lose their money.

So you can see that my decision with respect to the enforcement protocol relative to the lottery has sent the wrong message. Therefore, after a lot of prayer and discussion with key leaders on campus, I am today announcing that we are returning to the simple, straightforward policy on gambling that is stated on page 10 of the Student Handbook: “Gambling or wagering on or off campus” is “prohibited.” This includes playing the lottery.

The university’s response to students found to be participating in the lottery is the same as it has been in the past: that is, a sequential progression of sanctions beginning with a written and/or verbal reprimand.

It is important to me that all people, both here and away from campus, know that Harding University stands firmly against gambling. Our goal is to graduate students of deep faith who have the skills and values to work hard, to make a good living, to be solid citizens, to strengthen their communities, and to be very generous with the blessings that God places in their hands.

I know that some people will not agree with this decision. However, I feel this is the right decision based on what Harding stands for.