ADA – The East Central University volleyball team will head to Arkansas for two weekend Great American Conference matches.  The Tigers will face Southern Arkansas, Friday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. and Arkansas-Monticello, Saturday, Oct. 28 at noon.

ECU is coming off two non-conference wins at the beginning of the week over Langston and Mid-America Christian to move to 7-16 overall and 3-6 in league action.  With just seven league matches left for the season, the Tigers are currently eighth in the league standings and would make the tournament.  However, ECU is just one match head of Southern Arkansas and two over Southeastern and Northwestern.

Junior Lily Porsa had a strong weekend on defense for ECU and has now moved up to the No. 2 position in the Tigers Career Digs list, with 1,031.  The No. 1 spot will be within reach in her senior season and is currently held by Megan Kimak (2,172).

SAU comes into the weekend with an 8-15 overall record and a 2-7 mark in the GAC after a non-conference win Tuesday, Oct. 18.  The Muleriders have a .176 team hitting percentage and have allowed a .201 mark this season.

SAU has two players with over 200 kills on the year, with Serena LeDuff leading the team.  LeDuff has 220 kills, 20 service aces and 176 digs.  Alli O'Banion adds 213 kills, a .234 (213k-88e-535ta) hitting percentage and 41 (3-38) blocks.

UAM is 8-13 overall and 4-5 in the league and will face Southeastern Friday before hosting the Tigers.  The Cotton Blossoms have tallied a .203 team hitting percentage and allowed a .222 mark by the opposition.

UAM has two players that have recorded over 200 kills in Carolina Gasparini and Shay Mitchell.  Gasparini has tallied a .220 (229k-84e-660ta) attack percentage, 37 service aces, 175 digs and 16 (1-15) blocks.  Mitchell adds a .227 (219k-78e-621ta) percentage, 11 aces, 140 digs and 25 (2-23) blocks.

The Tigers and the Muleriders have battled on 11 previous occasions, with ECU trailing 5-6 overall and 2-5 in league action.  The Tigers also trail in the overall series with UAM (4-5), but lead 4-2 when playing as GAC opponents.