ADA – The East Central University volleyball team will open the 2015 season at the Nova Southeastern Shark Invitational, Sept. 4-5 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  The Tigers are one of seven teams in the tournament, including Oklahoma Baptist from the Great American Conference.

ECU will play its first match Friday, Sept. 4 at 10:30 a.m. (CST) against Embry Riddle and then battle with the host Sharks at 6 p.m. that evening.  The Tigers will then face Westminster College, Saturday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. and Eckerd College at 3:30 p.m.  The tournament marks the first meeting for ECU against all four opponents in school history.

Embry Riddle, Nova Southeastern and Eckerd College are all members of the Sunshine State Conference, with the Eckerd picked seventh and Nova Southeastern eighth in the preseason poll (Embry Riddle not ranked).
Westminster College competes out of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Association and was picked tied for 15^th in the preseason poll.

Embry Riddle finished the 2014 season with a 21-10 overall record and a 13-1 mark in the SSC.  The Eagles are in their transition years into the NCAA DII ranks and won the Sun Conference Tournament in two sweeps before falling in the opening round of the NAIA National Championship.

The Sharks were 13-15 a season ago and 6-10 in the SSC.  NSU lost three players from the 2014 roster, but have added six for 2015.  Caitlin Donahue is the key returner for the Sharks with a .335 (160-33-379) attack percentage, 14 service aces, 33 digs and 66 (19-47) blocks.

The Eagles return seven, out of 11, players from a year ago, but lose their top two hitters.  Evelina Abdurakhmanova is one of the top returners for ERU, with a .267 (316-116-749) hitting percentage, 19 service aces, 113 digs and 61 block assists.

The Griffins return 10 players from the 2014 season that saw them finish 10-18 overall and 4-10 in the RMAC. Jessica Chellsen is one of the key returners with a .206 (240-107-645) attack percentage, and 36 (9-27) blocks.

The Tritons went 12-18 overall and 3-13 in the SSC in 2014 and return nine-of-13 from the roster.  Tjasa Kotnik is the top returner with a .272 (315-86-843) hitting percentage, nine service aces, 91 digs and 60 (10-50) blocks.

The Tigers return 13 of 14 players from a year ago, including all seven starters.  That group includes All-GAC Honorable Mention selections, seniors Hayley Gerken and Sarah Simpson.  Gerken led the team with a .261 (206-64-544) attack percentage and added 17 service aces, 55 digs and 74 (10-64) blocks.  Simpson added 292 kills, 24 service aces, 272 digs and 24 block assists.