ADA – After three weeks of strong tournament play, the East Central University volleyball team will open the Great American Conference portion of the season against arch rival Southeastern Oklahoma State, Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. 

The match is the annual Blackout the Power of the Storm match where fans are encouraged to wear black in support of the Tigers.

ECU went 2-10 in the opening weekends, including four matches against nationally ranked teams.  The Tigers have four players that have 80-or-more kills on the season.  Junior Madyson Gill leads the way with 85, junior Kaci Harrison adds 84, junior Alex Campbell 82 and junior Madeline Mayer 81.  Mayer also adds 12 service aces and 33 (3-30) digs.

Southeastern comes into the week with a 7-5 record and will open GAC play, Tuesday, Sept. 20 against Oklahoma Baptist.  The Savage Storm has a .195 team hitting percentage and are allowing just a .187 mark.

Julie Benford is one of three players with 100-or-more kills on the season.  Benford has tallied a .350 (100k-23e-220ta) hitting percentage, 25 service aces, 13 digs and 19 (4-15) blocks.  Abby Jameson adds 134 kills, a .221 attack percentage, 68 digs and 14 (2-12) blocks.

The Tigers trail in the all-time series 5-12, with a 4-9 mark when playing as league opponents.  ECU has done a little better when playing at home (3-5), but has lost the last four matches.