ADA – For the second time in the 2014 season the East Central University volleyball team battled through a five-set loss (2-3) to Southwestern Oklahoma State (19-25, 25-20, 17-25, 25-15, 6-15) in the Kerr Activities Center and Great American Conference action.

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The Tigers (4-21, 0-11 GAC) were paced by junior Hayley Gerken, who tallied 12 kills, a .207 (12k-6e-29ta) hitting percentage, three service aces, seven digs and three block assists. 

Junior Sarah Simpson added 13 kills and 19 digs for her eighth double-double of the season and third-straight, while also adding five block assists.  Sophomore Madison Seiler recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 42 assists and 15 digs.

The Bulldogs (7-11, 5-6 GAC) jumped out to an early 1-6 lead in the opening set, but saw the advantage quickly disappear when ECU went on a 7-1 run and went up 8-7.  The teams then traded the next six serves before 7-2 run by SWOSU gave them back the advantage.  The Bulldogs held onto the lead and increased the advantage to eight (15-23) before claiming the 19-25 win.

The second set was a true tug-of-war, with 12 tie scores and six lead changes before a winner could be decided.  The Bulldogs took the first large lead with a 4-0 run after the score was knotted at 12.  The Tigers battled back and gain their own advantage with a 6-0 run (19-17) and then didn't allow SWOSU to get more than one point on a serve rotation the rest of the set to push through for the 25-20 win.

The third set was close at the beginning, but a 6-1 run by the Bulldogs after a 7-all tie pushed them ahead for good.  ECU put together a 6-1 run of its own late in the set, but the deficit was too much to overcome and the Tigers fell 17-25.

ECU came alive right from the first serve of the fourth set, scoring the first four points.  The Tigers added a 5-0 run on the next serve rotation for a 9-2 advantage.  ECU kept pushing and despite a few small runs by the Bulldogs came out with a 25-15 win to force the fifth set.

After the trading the first four serves, SWOSU took control of the scoreboard in the final set with a 4-0 run and a 2-6 advantage.  The Bulldogs never let off the gas and claimed a 6-15 set five win for the match victory.

The Tigers will remain at home to be part of the annual Homecoming festivities when they host Northwestern Oklahoma State, Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Kerr Activities Center.

Notes: This was the seventh five-set match for ECU this season…the previous match for the Tigers at Henderson State, which was originally counted as a GAC match did not count for the conference standings.