ALVA, OKLA. – The East Central University volleyball team fell in a Great American Conference match, 1-3 (25-23, 15-25, 20-25, 23-25), to Northwestern Oklahoma State.  The match was the second-to-last of the regular season for ECU, who is still hoping to advance to the 2016 GAC Championship Tournament.

The Tigers (7-22, 3-12 GAC) were led by junior Taylor Turner, who recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 40 assists and 15 digs.  Junior Mackenzie Davis tallied 10 kills, a .368 (10k-3e-19ta) hitting percentage and four blocks.  Junior Alex Campbell added 12 kills, three digs and two blocks, while junior Lily Porsa tallied a team-high 23 digs.

ECU took the first point in set one and never let the Rangers (4-26, 2-13 GAC) take the lead themselves.  The Tigers would go on a few runs to extend the lead to as many as eight, but NWOSU would fight back to tie the set, resulting in three tie scores.  The final tie came at 22-all, but Campbell recorded a kill for ECU to start a 4-1 run to claim the 25-23 win.

The second set saw the Rangers jump out to an early 4-10 advantage and never let up.  NWOSU increased the lead to as many as 10 before claiming the 15-25 win.

After trading the first four serves in set three, the Tigers took an 8-3 lead on a 5-1 run.  ECU kept the advantage until the middle of the set, when the Rangers used a few small runs to tie the set at 15.  The teams then traded the next four points before NWOSU took the lead for good in a 3-0 run (17-19).  The Rangers added another 3-0 run in the final serves before taking the 20-25 win.

The fourth set was again a tight battle at the start, with the teams trading the first eight points.  This time it was the Tigers that pulled ahead, using a 5-0 run for a 9-4 advantage.  NWOSU kept fighting and pulled within one point a few times in the middle of the set, but the Tigers would not let them pull even or take the lead until the final five points. 

The Rangers tied the set at 20 and went ahead 20-22, with a 4-0 run.  ECU kept fighting and tied the set back at 23, but NOWSU got the final two points and earned the set and match win, 23-25.

The Tigers hopes to make the conference tournament now rest in their final match of the regular season, Thursday, Nov. 10 at Southeastern at 7 p.m. and the outcome of Southern Arkansas's final two matches.