Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 JOPLIN, MO. – The East Central University volleyball team dropped the final two matches of the Missouri Southern State Invitational.  The Lady Tigers (6-12) first fell 0-3 (24-26, 15-25, 24-26) to Missouri Western State and then lost 0-3 (23-25, 11-25, 11-25) to Southwest Baptist.

ECU was led by senior Danielle Essix, with 14 kills and 12 digs.  Sophomore Hayley Gerken added 13 kills and four block assists, while senior Noelle Cope added 11 kills and nine digs.

The Lady Tigers will continue their string of five non-conference matches, Tuesday, Oct. 15 when they travel to Fort Smith, Ark., to battle with Arkansas-Fort Smith at 6 p.m.  ECU will then return home for two conference matches over the weekend against Arkansas-Monticello (Oct. 18) and Southern Arkansas (Oct. 19).

Missouri Western State 3, East Central 0
The Lady Tigers fought hard in the opening match of the day against the Griffons (9-10), forcing extra points in two of three matches for the day.  ECU was led by senior Danielle Essix, who garnered nine kills and five digs.  Senior Jessica Wilkinson added her fourth double-double of the season with 12 assists and 10 digs.

The Lady Tigers earned a seven to three advantage in blocks, but trailed in all other statistical categories.  The key difference came in hitting percentage, where ECU trailed .179 (36k-17e-106ta) to .268 (42k-16e-97ta).

The opening set was a tight battle that required extra points.  The teams battled through 14 tie scores and five lead changes in the set, with no team leading by more than two the entire set.  The Lady Tigers tied the game at 24 to force the extra points, but MWSU got the next two points on kills to earn the 24-26 win.

The second set was close early, with the team trading the first six serves.  ECU then went on a 5-0 run to take a 7-3 advantage.  However, the Griffons went on an 8-3 run to force a tie at 11.  MWSU kept the press up and used another 5-0 run to take control of the set and go on to win 15-25.

The third set was again a tight battle, with extra points needed for a winner to be decided.  The teams battled through 12 ties and five lead changes, but were unable to earn the win.  Both teams had their chances to take control for good with several runs, including a 4-0 run by the Griffons to force a 22-all score.  The teams traded the next four serves, but MWSU picked up the final two points for the 24-26 win.

Southwest Baptist 3, East Central 0
Sophomore Hayley Gerken led the Lady Tigers in the second match of the day with eight kills.

ECU opened the match with a strong first set, forcing 10 tie scores and two lead changes before falling 23-25.  The Bearcats (13-6) jumped out to an early 2-6 advantage, but ECU fought back to tie the set at 14.  From there the Lady Tigers kept the score within two points and the final tie came at 23-all.  However, SWBU pulled together for the final two points of the match.

The Bearcats kept the momentum on their side heading into the second match and too an early 1-5 lead.  SWBU kept the pressure up the rest of the set and earned an 11-25 win.

The third set again saw the Bearcats jump out to an early 1-4 advantage, but this time ECU got within one at 3-4.  That was as close as they got the rest of the way, as SWBU used several small runs to earn the 11-25 win.