ADA – The East Central University volleyball team dropped two matches in the final day of the Tiger/Savage Storm Classic at the Kerr Activities Center.  The Tigers (2-6) first dropped a tight 2-3 (22-25, 29-27, 25-21, 9-25, 10-15) match to Fort Hays State and then fell 1-3 (22-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-25) to William Jewell.

Photo Gallery vs. Fort Hays State

Sophomore Madyson Gill led the team with 26 kills, 35 digs, four (1-3) blocks and two service aces.  Seniors Sarah Simpson and Hayley Gerken and sophomore Alex Campbell all garnered more than 10 kills.  Simpson tallied 19, Gerken 17 and Campbell 11.

ECU will now get ready to start the Great American Conference season, as they host Southwestern Oklahoma State, Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Kerr Activities Center.

Fort Hays State 3, East Central 2
The Tigers dropped a hard fought five-set match to Fort Hays State, winning the second and third sets.

Gill led the way for ECU with 14 kills and 22 digs, for her third double-double of the season.  Gill also added three (1-2) blocks and two service aces.  Gerken netted 10 kills and three block assists, while sophomore Lily Porsa led the team with 21 digs.

The opening two sets were all out battles, with six ties and three leads changes is set one and 15 ties and nine lead changes in set two.  In the opening set it came down to the final two points after it was tied at 23.  FHSU buckled down and got two-straight kills to end the set with a 23-25 win.

The second set looked like it may go in favor of Fort Hays, but after trailing 19-21, the Tigers fought back to tie the set at 21 and forced a back-and-forth battle for the win that ended in extra points.  ECU took advantage of two late errors by FHSU to claim the 29-27 win.

The third set was close as well with 10 tie scores, with the final coming at 21-all.  However, the Tigers took control and got kills from Gill and Campbell on the way to a 25-21 victory.

ECU then struggled in the fourth set, eventually falling 9-25 to force the fifth-and-deciding set.

FHSU got out to an early lead in the final set (2-5) and never let the Tigers get much momentum on their side and took the set and match 10-15.

William Jewell 3, East Central 1
The final match of the tournament saw Gill and Simpson lead the team with 12 kills each, while sophomore Dahyana Essix and Gill each garnered 13 digs.

The key to the match was a 6-12 differential in blocks and a 2-12 difference in service aces.

The opening set was a title battle throughout, with nine tie scores and six lead changes.  The final tie came at 22 all, before the Cardinals (4-4) took control and scored five-straight points for a 22-25 win.

The second set was close at the beginning, but William Jewell kept pushing and moved up 0-2 with a 19-25 win.

The third set was close again, with the Cardinals pushing ahead 12-15.  However, the Tigers then used a 7-0 run to regain the advantage (19-15).  ECU then added a 5-0 run to push ahead to 24-18.  William Jewell then fought back and kept the win away from the Tigers for six serves before a kill from Simpson gave ECU the 25-23 win.

The momentum was then on the side of the Cardinals as they entered the fourth set.  William Jewell used several runs through the middle of the set to push ahead by as many as 10 before earning the 15-25 win.