ADA – The East Central University volleyball team will open a four-match home stand this weekend when they welcome Arkansas-Monticello and Southern Arkansas to the Kerr Activities Center.  The Tigers will face UAM, Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. and SAU, Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m.

Senior Hayley Gerken got closer to setting two more career records for ECU last weekend in the road matches in Arkadelphia, Ark.  The Orange, Calif., native is now two block solos away from setting the career block solo records (51-Tatiana Booth, 2010-12).  She is also five service aces from setting that career record, currently 94 by Danielle Essix.

The Cotton Blossoms are 8-12 overall and 1-8 in the GAC, but their matches have been much closer statistically than their record reflects.  While they trail .163 to .190 in hitting percentage, they are virtually even in service aces, digs and blocks and trail by one in kills and assists.

Carolina Gasparini leads the team with 179 kills, 25 service aces, 166 digs and 15 (1-14) blocks.  However, Aubrey Harrison is the most consistent hitter with a .236 (123k-43e-339ta) hitting percentage, while adding 20 aces, 60 digs and 37 (2-35) blocks.

UAM holds a 3-5 advantage in the all-time series, but the Tigers are 2-1 when playing at home and have not lost in Kerr since 2010.

The Muleriders are 11-12 overall and 3-6 in the Great American Conference after losing their last two matches in five sets each.  SAU will face Southeastern Oklahoma State Friday before coming to Ada.

The Muleriders hold a .205 to .179 lead in attack percentage this season.  They are also leading in most of the other statistical categories, except blocks where they trail 1.3 to 2.0.

Serena LeDuff and Alli O'Banion are the top players to watch for SAU.  LeDuff is hitting .230 (309k-109e-869ta) and adds 26 aces, 131 digs and 21 (1-20) blocks.  O'Banion contributes a .211 (21k-88e-579ta) attack percentage and 48 (4-44) blocks.

This will be the 11^th meeting in the all-time series that is currently knotted at five matches each.  However, the Muleriders hold a 2-4 advantage when playing in GAC matches.  The Tigers have done well at home in the series, going 3-0.