The East Central University volleyball team will have somewhat of a light week, with just two Great American Conference matches.  However, the Lady Tigers will first have to face Southern Nazarene, who is undefeated in league action at 6-0.  The match with the Crimson Storm is set for Bethany, Okla., Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.  ECU will then travel to face Henderson State, Saturday, Oct. 26 at noon.

Match Notes
 
Scouting Southern Nazarene
The Crimson Storm are 16-6 overall and 6-0 in GAC action this season after winning their last four matches.  The last action for SNU was Friday, Oct. 18 when they defeated Arkansas Tech (3-1).
 
While they lead in the most important column, the Crimson Storm is close to its opponents in most statistical categories on the season box score.  The two areas where they have clear advantages are hitting percentage (.218 to .150) and blocks (2.2 to 1.2).
 
SNU has four hitters with over 400 attempts on the season, but one stands out above the rest.  Taylor Jacobs has a .215 (294k-105e-881ta) hitting percentage and adds 185 digs and 41 (3-38) blocks.  Kira Roberts is also a strong player for the Crimson Storm, with 190 kills, 27 service aces and 37 (1-36) blocks.
 
Against the Crimson Storm
Last year the teams split their matches, with each wining on their home courts.  The stats were close all around, with the only key difference going in favor of the Lady Tigers in service aces (10 to 3).
 
Sophomore Hayley Gerken leads a trio of key returners from the series for ECU, with 14 kills, a .393 (14k-3e-28ta) hitting percentage and six block assists.  Senior Noelle Cope adds 14 kills and seniro Danielle Essix 13 kills.
 
Nicole Greenway and Kira Roberts are the top returners for SNU.  Greenway tallied a .485 (19k-3e-33ta) hitting percentage and added nine (1-8) blocks.  Roberts contributed 14 kills.
 
The Series
The all-time series with the Crimson Storm is just three matches long, with SNU holding a 1-2 advantage.  The Crimson Storm have also been the victors in all matches played in Bethany (two).
 
Scouting Henderson State
The Lady Reddies are 3-16 overall and 0-8 in the GAC after dropping their last two matches.  HSU will face Ouachita Baptist (Tuesday) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Thursday) before hosting the Lady Tigers.
 
The Lady Reddies trail their opponents in all statistical categoires, with the closest difference coming in blocks (1.6 to 1.8) and the largest disadvantage in hitting percentage (.092 to .257).
 
HSU has six hitters this season, with just one with over 400 attempts and 100 kills.  Katrina Goulbourne is the key hitter for the Lady Reddies, with a .152 (142k-78e-421ta) hitting percentage.  Jami Jackson is a strong player as well, with 43 (10-33) blocks and 14 service aces.
 
Against the Lady Reddies
Last season the teams met just once, with the Lady Tigers earning a 3-0 win in Ada.  ECU lead on all the areas of the stat sheet except blocks, but the key difference was in hitting percentage.  The Lady Tigers earned a .323 to .153 advantage.
 
Sophomore Hayley Gerken led the Lady Tiger returners with nine kills and a .500 (9k-1e-16ta) hitting percentage.  Senior Danielle Essix added eight kills and 11 digs.
 
The top returner for the Lady Reddies is Jessica Moss, with four kills.
 
The Series
The teams have met every season since the Lady Tigers started volleyball in 2008, with ECU holding a 5-1 advantage in the all-time series.  The Lady Tigers have one the last four meetings and own a 2-0 mark when playing at home.
 
Home Court Advantage
In 2013 the Lady Tigers are 6-3 when playing at home and have won their last six matches in the Kerr Activities Center.
 
Blocking Party
The Lady Tigers are already on pace to have one of the best blocking seasons after their opening two matches of the season.  The most blocks in a season by ECU is 245.0 from the 2011 season, which averaged out to 1.93 blocks per set.  The Lady Tigers already have 147 blocks, or 1.93 per set.  ECU's 1.93 blocks per game (as of Oct. 21) ranks them No. 86 in the NCAA. 
 
Tracking the Record Books
While the ECU volleyball program has only been around since 2008, there are several members of the 2013 squad that are at the top or close to the top of several career record categories.
 
Taylor Brown          
- 4th Assists (723)

Noelle Cope           
- 1st Kills (983)
- 1st Attempts (2,868)
- 1st Points (1,146.5)
- 4th Block Assists (125)
- 4th Block Solos (27)
- 4th Total Blocks (152)
- 4th Matches Played (107)
 - 4th Sets Played (370)

Danielle Essix         
- 1st Service Aces (84)
- 2nd Attempts (2,701)
- 2nd Kills (858)
- 2nd Points (1,003.5)
- 3rd Matches Played (113)
- 3rd Sets Played (384)
- 3rd Digs (846)

Hayley Gerken        
- 3rd Total Blocks (168)
- 3rd Block Assists (145)
- 4th Attack Pct. (.202)

Sarah Nelson         
- 1st Total Blocks (271)
 - 1st Block Assists (237)
- 2nd Block Solos (34)
- 5th Matches Played (103)

Madison Seiler        
- 5th Assists (345)

Jessica Wilkinson    
- 3rd Assists (1,178)
 
Up Next
The Lady Tigers will have four days off before their next match on Halloween Night.  ECU will face arch rival Southeastern Oklahoma State on the annual Black Out! Night at the Kerr Activities Center.  The match is slated to start at 7 p.m.