ADA – The East Central University volleyball team picked up its first win of the 2014 season with a 3-1 (25-22, 25-17, 18-25, 25-20) victory over Texas A&M International.  The Lady Tigers (1-9) then lost 2-3 (21-25, 25-19, 25-19, 23-25, 13-15) to Langston in the final match of the tournament.

ECU was led by freshman Madyson Gill, who earned 30 kills, three service aces, 28 digs and four total blocks.  Fellow freshman Mackenzie Davis added 16 kills, four digs and a team-high seven block assists.

The Lady Tigers will now prepare for a busy week on the road.  ECU will first face Southwestern Oklahoma State, Tuesday, Sept. 16 in Weatherford and then travel to face Northwestern Oklahoma State, Thursday, Sept. 18 in Great American Conference action.  The week will end with a Saturday, Sept. 20 non-conference match at St. Gregory's.

ECU 3, Texas A&M International 1
ECU saw strong offensive performances in the opening match of the day from junior Sarah Simpson and freshman Madyson Gill, who both earned double-doubles.  Simpson tallied 17 kills and 14 digs, while hitting .275 (17k-6e-40ta).  Gill added 16 kills and 16 digs, with a .250 (16k-6e-40ta) hitting percentage.

The Lady Tigers came out ready to play in the opening set, taking the lead from the start and pushing it out to 10 points (17-7).  The Dustdevils did not go away quietly and used a 15-7 run to cut the deficit to 25-22 before Simpson earned the last point for ECU with a kill.

The second set was close at the start, with the teams trading the first eight serves.  The Lady Tigers then pushed ahead with a 3-0 run.  TAMI made a push a few plays later and cut the difference to one (9-8), but ECU responded with a 5-1 run to regain the momentum.  The Lady Tigers kept fighting and claimed the 25-17 win.

The Dustdevils went into the third set with renewed energy and took a 3-6 early advantage.  ECU fought back to get within one (7-8), but were not able to get any closer through the set and fell 18-25.

The fourth set started out as a battle for control, but after a five-all tie the Lady Tigers pushed ahead 11-6.  TAMI kept pushing and cut the deficit to one (15-14), but ECU would not let them get any closer and slowly regained a more comfortable four-point lead (22-18).  The Lady Tigers didn't let up the pressure and fought through for the 25-20 victory.

Langston 3, ECU 2
The second set was a much closer all-around effort with Gill and sophomore Jessica Sullivan leading the team with 14 and 10 kills each.  However, Davis and sophomore Bria Gambrell each added nine and freshman Alex Campbell contributed seven.  Sophomore Madison Seiler (12), Gill (12), redshirt freshman Dahyana Essix (17) and freshman Lily Porsa (12) were all in double figure in digs as well.

The opening set was a tight battle right until the end; with 14 tie scores and 11 lead changes.  The final tie came at 21-all before the Lions used a 5-0 run to finish the set with the 21-25 win.

The second set was again close all the way through, but this time it was the Lady Tigers who pulled away late.  ECU trailed 15-16, but came to life and used a 10-3 run to end the set with a 25-19 win.

The Lady Tigers took the lead right from the beginning of the third set and never let Langston gain an advantage in the set, while using several runs to take a 25-19 win.

The opposite was true for set four, as the Lions took the first lead and didn't let ECU get closer than one the rest of the set on the way to a 23-25 win to force the fifth set.

The fifth set reflected the rest of the match, with both teams taking leads and using runs to gain or eliminate an advantage.  The final tie came at 13-all, but the Lions used a kill and a block to take the match victory 13-15.