ADA – In the lone match of the week, the East Central University volleyball team will make the short trip to Shawnee, Okla., to battle with Oklahoma Baptist.

The Tigers had a busy last week, winning two non-conference matches Monday and then falling in two Great American Conference matches over the weekend.  The GAC losses pushed ECU to ninth in the league standings with three weeks left.  The top eight teams, except Oklahoma Baptist who is still reclassifying, will make the GAC Championship Tournament.

The Bison would be the No. 3 team in the league, if eligible for post season play.  OBU is 14-11 overall and 8-3 in the GAC after going 1-1 last weekend.  The Bison trail its opponents in attack percentage (.173/.189) and also in assists and digs.  However, OBU holds a 1.5 to 1.1 lead in service aces and 2.1 to 1.4 in blocks per set.

The Bison have one player with over 200 kills and three more at over 100 this season.  Nicole Fleitman leads the team with 276 kills, 11 service aces, 106 digs and 59 (4-55) blocks.  Cadyn Laing is the most consistent hitter for OBU, with a .306 (199k-49e-490ta) hitting percentage and 104 (24-80) blocks.

In the first meeting between ECU and OBU this season, the Tigers picked up a 3-2 win at the Kerr Activities Center.  ECU was led by junior Madison Gill with 22 kills, 10 digs, three service aces and four blocks.  The Bison were paced by Nicole Fleitman with 16 kills and three blocks.  Laing added 14 kills and five blocks.

After Thursday's match, the Tigers will return home to face Southern Nazarene in the final home match of the 2016 season.  ECU will honor is four seniors; Dahyana Essix, Amanda Fly, Madison Seiler and Jessica Sullivan before the match.