Box Score HOT SPRINGS, ARK. – The East Central University volleyball team saw its 2013 season come to a close with a 0-3 (17-25, 18-25, 20-25) loss to Arkansas Tech in the semifinals of the Great American Conference tournament at Summit Arena.

Box Score

The Lady Tigers (12-19) were led by senior Noelle Cope with nine kills and 11 digs.  Senior Danielle Essix added 17 digs, while senior Jessica Wilkinson garnered 23 assists.

The first set was a tight battle at the beginning with five tie scores in the first 12 points.  The Golden Suns then went on a 2-0 run to take control of the set for good.  ECU kept the set within four points for most of the set, until a 4-0 run by ATU pushed the advantage out the seven (12-19).  That was all the Golden Suns need as they went on to win 17-25.

ATU started the second set with a 3-0 run and kept a small lead until the middle of the set.  That is when the Golden Suns used a 6-0 run to take control for good.  The Lady Tigers fought back late in the set with a few small runs, but fell 18-25.

ATU again started the set with a run, this time 4-1.  The Golden Suns expanded the lead to eight (3-11), with a 6-0 run, and continued to keep the pressure on ECU.  The Lady Tigers made a push, with a 3-0 run in the middle of the set, but were behind by eight late in the set.  It looked like ATU would earn a nine-point win, but ECU kept fighting and held off four match-points before falling 20-25.

The match was the final appearances for seven ECU seniors that have their names all over the ECU record books.  The Lady Tigers will say goodbye to Danielle Essix, Jessica Wilkinson, Sarah Nelson, Noelle Cope, Ashley Williams, Kennedy Riley and Taylor Brown.