ADA – The East Central University volleyball team snapped a nine-match losing streak with a come-from-behind 3-2 (16-25, 13-25, 25-15, 25-16, 18-16) win over Arkansas-Monticello in Great American Conference action at the Kerr Activities Center.

It was the fifth five-set match for the Tigers (4-16, 1-9 GAC), the second time they had lost the first two sets and forced a fifth, but the first that they pulled off the victory in set five.

Sophomore Madeline Mayer led the team with a .583 (15k-1e-24ta) hitting percentage, while adding two digs and two block assists.  Sophomore Madyson Gill added 14 kills, nine digs and two block assists.  Senior Sarah Simpson had 12 kills and nine digs, while sophomore Lily Porsa led the team with 19 digs.

Senior Hayley Gerken got ever closer to breaking two more career records for ECU.  Her two service aces have her within three of setting that career record, while she tied the career block solo record at 51 with her lone block solo of the match, while adding six block assists.

The first set was close at the start, but it was the Cotton Blossoms (4-16, 1-9 GAC) who used a 5-1 run to take the first advantage.  The teams traded points for most of the set before UAM took it 16-25.

The second set saw the Cotton Blossoms jump out to an early 3-7 lead and never let up as they pushed through for a 13-25 win.

After the intermission the Tigers came out ready to fight and took a 10-4 lead with a few small runs at the beginning of set three.  UAM kept fighting and kept the disadvantage around three to six points until the end of the set.  That is when ECU used a 6-1 run in the final points to claim a 25-15 win.

The teams traded the first 18 serves of set four, setting up a nine-all tie.  However, that is when the Tigers pushed the accelerator and used a 10-4 run to gain a 19-13 lead.  ECU then only allowed UAM to score three more points throughout the set for a 25-16 win that forced the fifth-and-deciding set.

Set five was a true battle with nine tie scores and four lead changes and no team leading by more than three points. ECU was leading 15-14 and it looked like it would be the end of the match, but a service error forced extra points in the set. 

The teams then traded the next three serves for a 16-all tie.  Gill then sent a shot down to give ECU the lead and on the next play Mayer earned the final point with a kill in the middle of the court and an 18-16 win.

The Tigers will now get ready to face Southern Arkansas, Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. in the Kerr Activities Center.