ST. JOESPH, MO. – The East Central University volleyball team dropped two decisions in the second day of the Gold & Green Classic.  The Tigers (2-6) first fell 1-3 (16-25, 23-25, 25-22, 23-25) to Missouri Western State and then 0-3 (19-25, 23-25, 22-25) to Missouri S&T.

ECU was paced by juniors Madyson Gill and Madeline Mayer during the two matches.  Gill tallied 17 kills, 33 digs and five block assists, while Mayer added 14 kills, two service aces and eight (1-7) blocks.

The Tigers will now get ready for the final of three-straight tournaments, Sept. 16-17 for the Oklahoma Baptist/UCO Tournament in Shawnee and Edmond, Okla.  

ECU will first battle with Washburn (10 a.m.) and Emporia State (4 p.m.), Friday, Sept. 16 in Shawnee, Okla.  The Tigers will then travel to Edmond, Okla., for Saturday, Sept. 17 to face Central Oklahoma (11 a.m.) and Pitt State (3 p.m.).

Missouri Western 3, East Central 1
The teams traded the first few points of the opening set before a 5-0 run by Missouri Western gave them a 4-9 advantage.  However, the Tigers fought back and tied the set at 10, with a 5-0 run of its own.  That is when the Griffins took control, using a 10-2 run for a 12-20 lead, on the way to a 16-25 win.

The second set saw five ties in the opening 14 serves before Missouri Western used a 4-0 run to take control.  The Griffons were leading 15-24 before ECU made a push and held off eight set points before falling 23-25.

The Tigers took the momentum they had started at the end of set two into the third set and jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead.  Missouri Western fought back and tied the set at seven, but a 9-1 run by ECU pushed them to a 16-8 lead.  The Tigers held on to the lead through the set despite a few small runs by the Griffons and held on for the 25-22 win.

The fourth set saw Missouri Western take a 3-6 early advantage and the Griffons never let the Tigers get closer than two points until the very end of the set.  ECU was trailing 20-24 and took the next three points to get within one (23-24), but fell 23-25.

Missouri S&T 3, East Central 0
The teams traded the first four points of set 1 before a 5-0 run by Missouri S&T gave them the needed advantage for the rest of the set.  The Miners kept pushing the tempo and earned the 19-25 win.

The second was a closer battle with 13 ties and five lead changes before a team could get the needed two point advantage to win the set.  The final tie came at 23, but it was Missouri S&T that took the final two points for the 23-25 win.

The Tigers fell behind early in set three, but battled back to tie the set through the middle, with six tie scores.  However, that is when the Miners started to pull away and eventually claimed the 22-25 win.