ADA – The East Central University volleyball team picked up their first win of the 2015 season and added a second in the opening day of the Tiger/Savage Storm Classic at the Kerr Activities Center. The Tigers (2-4) first claimed a 3-1 (25-23, 14-25, 25-21, 25-22) win over Oklahoma Panhandle State and then defeated Texas A&M-Commerce 3-1 (25-14, 25-27, 25-12, 25-17).

Photo Gallery vs. OPSU I Photo Gallery vs. TAMUC

ECU was paced by senior Sarah Simpson, who garnered 21 kills, four service aces, 20 digs and two block assists in the two matches.  Sophomore Madyson Gill added 16 kills, 18 digs and three block assists in just one match and sophomore Alex Campbell tallied 13 kills.

Defensively sophomore Lily Porsa led the team with 24 digs.  Senior Hayley Gerken added eight (3-5 blocks, with her three block solos against the Lions.

The Tigers will finish up the two-day tournament, Saturday, Sept. 12 with matches against Fort Hays State (noon) and William Jewell (7 p.m.).

ECU 3, Oklahoma Panhandle State 1
The Tigers opened the tournament with a 3-1 win over the Aggies, with Simpson leading the team with 10 kills, two service aces and 12 blocks for her first double-double of the season.  Porsa added four service aces and 17 digs.

ECU came out ready to fight in the opening set, forcing 13 tie scores and four lead changes before earning the 25-23 win.  The final tie came at 23 after an ECU error, however, the Tigers fought back and earned a kill from Simpson and an error by the Aggies gave them the win.

The second set was all OPSU, as they jumped out to an early 5-8 advantage and used several runs through the set and took the 14-25 win.

ECU came right back and turned things around in the third set.  After falling behind 2-9, the Tigers used a 7-0 run to get within two (8-10) and then battled through to tie the set at 14 and take a 16-14 lead.  That was all they needed to push through for the 25-21 victory.

The battle for control then resumed in the final set, with 11 tie scores and five lead changes throughout.  The final knotted score came at 19-all, but ECU took control and used a 6-2 run to earn the 25-22 victory.

ECU 3, Texas A&M-Commerce 1
The second  match of the day was just like the first with the Tigers taking sets one, three and four.  Gill came out strong in her lone match of the day, with 16 kills and 18 digs.  Simpson added 11 kills, eight digs and two service aces, while Gerken netted seven (3-4) total blocks.

The teams traded points and runs in the opening set, with seven ties and five lead changes before ECU took control for good.  The set was tied at 11 when the Tigers used a 6-3 run to take over and push through for the 25-14 win.
The start of the second set was again a battle and ECU again took a late lead (23-20).  However, the Lions (4-3) came fighting back and tied the set at 24 to force extra points and eventually earned the 25-27 win.

The third set was close early with ties at four and five, but the Tigers then used a 5-2 run to take over for good.  ECU added another 8-0 run at the end of the set to secure the 25-12 win.

The final set was all Tigers, as they jumped out to an early 11-1 advantage and never let TAMUC score more than three points in a row the rest of the way.  ECU pushed through the end of the set and took the set and match victory 25-17.