\ADA – The East Central University volleyball team will have a busy week, as they start the final two weeks of regular-season action.  The Tigers (5-18, 1-11 GAC) will have two road matches and then start a three-match home stand to end the year.

ECU will first face Southern Nazarene, Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in Bethany, Okla.  The Tigers then travel to battle with Southwestern, Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m., before coming home to face Northwestern, Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m.

Senior Hayley Gerken had a strong outing for ECU last week, setting two more career records.  The Orange, Calif., native set the career block solo record (52) and the career service aces record (95).  She also hit .316 (15k-3e-38ta) for the week.

Sophomore Taylor Turner turned in two double-double performances for the Tigers last week, with 31 assists and 11 digs against Langston and 32 assists and 11 digs versus Oklahoma Baptist.

SNU comes into Tuesday's match with a 12-15 overall record and an 8-4 mark in the GAC, putting them tied for third in the GAC standings with Southwestern.  The Crimson Storm have had close matches for the year, with all the statistical categories close to even, including a .174 to .179 difference in hitting percentage.

McKenna Qualls is one of four players with over 200 kills for the season (275), but she is hitting .196 (275k-123e-776ta).  Qualls also adds 48 service aces, 197 digs and 34 (4-30) blocks.  The most consistent hitter in the group is Courtney Bowie, with a .260 (223k-70e-588ta) attack percentage. 

Tuesday's match will be the ninth in the all-time series, with SNU holding a 1-7 lead.  That advantage also includes a 0-4 mark when playing in Bethany.

Southwestern is currently 17-9 overall and 8-4 in the GAC and will play Oklahoma Baptist Tuesday on the road before hosting the Tigers.  The Bulldogs have a .216 to .190 hitting percentage advantage on the year, but are close in all the other categories.

Carly Zak is the key player all-around for SWOSU.  Zak has a .234 (333k-123e-897ta) hitting percentage, 31 service aces, 274 digs and 45 (6-39) blocks.  The Bulldogs have a total of five players with over 100 kills each, but the next highest number behind Zak is 194.

The all-time series with SWOSU is currently knotted at six matches each, but the Bulldogs have a 2-4 advantage when playing in Weatherford and have won the last four matches.

Northwestern is 10-15 overall and 7-6 in the GAC and will be idle until Friday when they face Southeastern.  The Rangers are close in all statistical categories to their opponents, including a .179 to .181 difference in hitting percentage.

Nora To'omalatai leads the team with 258 kills, 18 service aces, 185 digs and 23 (3-20) blocks.  Natalie Fahey is the most consistent hitter for the Rangers, with a .302 (179k-52e-421ta) attack percentage.  She also adds 35 aces, 57 digs and 56 (14-42) blocks.

The series with NWOSU currently stands at 3-4 in favor of the Rangers, with ECU losing the last four matches.  However, the Tigers are 2-1 when playing at the Kerr Activities Center.