ADA  - The East Central University volleyball team lost two five-set matches in the opening day of the South Central Classic it is co-hosting with Southeastern Oklahoma State.  The Lady Tigers (0-5) first dropped a 2-3 (16-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-17, 11-15) decision to Central Oklahoma and then fell 2-3 (25-21, 25-19, 15-25, 22-25, 10-15) to Maryville in the evening session at the Kerr Activities Center.

ECU was led by senior Ashley Williams, who tallied a .256 (16k -6e-39ta) hitting percentage and added eight (1-7) blocks.  Sophomore Haley Gerken and senior Danielle Essix each led the team with 23 kills, while Gerken added a team-best 10 (1-9) blocks.

The Lady Tigers will wrap up the South Central Classic, Saturday, Sept. 14 with matches against Cameron (1 p.m.) and Mid-America Christian (7 p.m.) at the Kerr Activities Center.

Central Oklahoma 3, ECU 2
The Lady Tigers were led by sophomore Hayley Gerken who tallied 14 kills, a .258 (14k-6e-31ta) hitting percentage and two block assists.  Gerken was one of three ECU players with double-digit kill totals, as seniors Danielle Essix and Noelle Cope each garnered 10.

Essix recorded the Lady Tiger's first double-double of the season, with 10 kills and 14 digs.  Sophomore Madison Seiler also earned a double-double in the match, with 20 assists and 10 digs.

The first set started out close, with five tie scores, with the final tie coming at 12-all.  The Bronchos then used a 9-0 run to take control of the set and go on to win 25-16.

The second set was even closer, with nine ties and five lead changes.  With the score at 14-15, the Lady Tigers started a 5-0 run that gave them the lead for good.  After the run ECU did not allow UCO to score more than one point at a time the rest of the set on its way to a 25-20 win.

The third set was again tight, with the final of eight tie scores coming at 14-all.  While the Bronchos took a slight two-point advantage, the Lady Tigers kept the set close until UCO used a 5-0 run to finish the set with a 19-25 win.

ECU took control of the fourth set early, using a 7-1 run to earn a 10-4 advantage.  The Lady Tigers kept control of the momentum in the set and did not allow UCO to score more than two points in-a-row the rest of the set to win 25-17.

It looked like the Bronchos would easily take the fifth set, as they jumped out to a 2-5 advantage and increased the lead to seven (6-13).  However, that is when ECU mounted a come-back and rattled off five-straight points to cut the lead to two (11-13).  The come-back was cut short as UCO scored the next three points for the 11-15 final.

Maryville 3, ECU 2
Senior Danielle Essix led the team in the second match of the day, with 13 kills, a .278 (13k-3e-36ta) hitting percentage, 10 digs and four (1-3) blocks for her second double-double of the day and season.

Sophomore Hayley Gerken tallied nine kills and eight (1-7) blocks for the evening match.

The opening set was tight throughout the set, with the final of six ties coming at 17-all.  The Lady Tigers were up 16-12 when Maryville used a 5-1 run to tie the set at 17.  However, ECU earned the next two points for the advantage and only allowed the Saints to score three more points the rest of the set on its way to a 25-21 win.

The Lady Tigers led the second set from start to finish, taking an early 11-3 lead.  Maryville cut the advantage to four (14-10), but ECU followed with a 6-0 run and went on to win 25-19.

That is when the momentum switched to Maryville.  In the third set there were four early tie scores, with the last at four-all.  The Saints then used a 4-1 run to take a 5-8 lead.  Maryville kept pushing and did not allow ECU to get closer than two points the rest of the set on the way to a 15-25 win.

Set four was the Saints turn to take control and never let go, as they jumped out to an early 0-9 advantage.  The Lady Tigers fought back late in the set with a 9-2 run that got them to 22-23, but they were unable to pull off the win and fell 22-25.

The fifth-and-deciding set started out close, but a 4-0 run by Maryville gave the Saints a 4-6 lead.  They held the advantage through the rest of the set and never let ECU get closer than two points on their way to a 10-15 win.