The East Central University volleyball team will play in its final regular-season tournament, Oct. 11-12 when the Lady Tigers travel to Joplin, Mo., to play four matches at the Missouri Southern State Invitational.  ECU will face Pittsburg State (2 p.m.) and Washburn (4 p.m.), Friday, Oct. 11 and then Missouri Western State (11 a.m.) and Southwest Baptist (3 p.m.), Saturday, Oct. 12.

Match Notes

Scouting Pittsburg State
The Gorillas are 6-9 overall and 3-4 in the MIAA.  PSU will have one chance to improve their record before facing the Lady Tigers, as they play Northwest Missouri State, Thursday.

The Gorillas are trailing their opponents in all statistical categories, except a slight 18.3 to 18.1 digs per set and a 2.1 to 1.6 blocks per set advantage.

PSU has five main hitters, with two seeing a majority of the attack attempts.  Crystal Whitten has seen the most attempts (657), but hits .155 (206k-104e-657ta).  She also has seven service aces, 157 digs and 24 blocks.  Abbie Smith is the other key hitter with 412 attempts and a .165 (104k-36e-412ta) hitting percentage.

Against the Gorillas
ECU and PSU faced each other last year during a tournament, with the Gorillas earning a 0-3 win.  Noelle Cope leads the returners for ECU with 10 kills, while Crystal Whitten is the top returner for PSU with eight kills and 12 digs.

The Series
Last year's meeting was the first in the all-time series with the Gorillas.

Scouting Washburn
The Ichabods are currently ranked No. 13 in the AVCA after starting the season 15-3 overall and 5-0 in the MIAA.  Washburn has won its last eight games and will face Missouri Southern State before the tournament (Thursday).

The Ichabods have a .210 overall hitting percentage and are allowing their opponents to hit at just a .139 mark.  Washburn has five hitters and one setter, with Marissa Cox and Leanna Willer leading the offensive charge.  Cox has a .329 (260k-71e-574ta) hitting percentage and adds 42 (6-36) blocks.  Willer has seen the most attempts (644), but has a .146 (204k-110e-644ta) hitting percentage.  Willer also adds 14 service aces, 200 digs and 28 blocks.

The Series
ECU and Washburn have seen each other twice since 2008, with both meetings taking place before the 2010 season.  The Ichabods earned wins in both matches.

Scouting Missouri Western
The Griffons are 7-10 overall and 4-3 in the MIAA after defeating Emporia State (3-1), Tuesday.

MWSU trails its opponents in most categories on the stat sheet, except slight advantage in service aces (1.4 to 1.2) and digs (14.9 to 14.8).  The Griffons have six hitters with over 200 attempts on the season, with two key hitters to watch.  Erica Rottinghaus leads the team with 573 attempts.  Rottinghaus also adds 27 service aces and 226 digs.  Jessie Thorup is the most consistent hitter, with a .250 (163k-60e-412ta) hitting percentage.

Against the Griffons
ECU and MWSU meet last season at a tournament, with the Griffons earning a 2-3 win.  Seniors Danielle Essix and Sarah Simpson lead the Lady Tiger returns.  Essix had 14 kills and 14 digs, while Simpson added 10 kills and 12 digs.  Jessie Thorup leads the returners for MWSU with 12 kills.

The Series
The Lady Tigers and the Griffons have meet on three previous occasions, with MWSU holding a 2-1 lead in the series.

Scouting Southwest Baptist
The Bearcats are 11-5 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA after winning their last three matches.

Southwest Baptist trials its opponents in most stat categories, except hitting percentage (.183 to .154), service aces (1.3 to 1.2) and blocks (2.5 to 2.3).  The Bearcats have five main hitters this season, with two hitting over .300.  Nikki Macloch has seen the most attempts, with 341, and has a .302 (143k-40e-341ta) attack percentage, 13 service aces and 50 blocks.  Jordan Nedbalek is the most consistent hitter, with a .343 (11k-24e-251ta) hitting percentage and 68 blocks.

Against the Bearcats
ECU and Southwest Baptist meet last season at a tournament, with the Bearcats earning a 1-3 win.  Seniors Sarah Nelson and Danielle Essix led the team.  Nelson tallied eight kills, while Essix added six kills and 14 digs.  Jordan Nedbalek led the returners for Southwest Baptist, with 14 kills a .650 attack percentage and five blocks.

The Series
This will be just the second meeting between the Lady Tigers and Southwest Baptist in the all-time series.

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 109 blocks, or 2.02 per set.  ECU's 2.02 blocks per game ranks them No. 69 in the NCAA.  Senior Sarah Nelson, who is now the Lady Tigers all-time leading blocker, is ranked No. 41 in the nation for her 1.11 blocks per set.

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 (714)

Noelle Cope   
 - 1st Kills (936)
- 1st Attempts (2,703)
- 1st Points (1088.0)
- 4th Block Assists (118)
- 4th Block Solos (26)
- 4th Total Blocks (144)
- 4th Matches Played (100)
- 5th Sets Played (349)

Danielle Essix    
- 2nd Attempts (2,535)
- 2nd Kills (804)
- 3rd Matches Played (106)
- 3rd Points (941.5)
- 3rd Sets Played (362)
- 3rd Service Aces (79)
- 3rd Digs (756)

Hayley Gerken    
- 3rd Total Blocks (157)
- 3rd Block Assists (135)
- 4th Attack Pct. (.212)

Sarah Nelson  
 - 1st Total Blocks (258)
- 1st Block Assists (225)
- 2nd Block Solos (33)
- 5th Matches Played (96)

Madison Seiler    
- 5th Assists (201)

Jessica Wilkinson    
- 3rd Assists (1,066)

Up Next
The Lady Tigers will remain on the road for a single match before returning home for two GAC matches over the weekend.  ECU will travel to Arkansas-Fort Smith, Tuesday, Oct. 15 for a 6 p.m. match and then will return home to face Arkansas-Monticello Oct. 18 (7 p.m.) and Southern Arkansas Oct. 19 (2 p.m.).