ADA – The East Central University volleyball team will be headed to Missouri for the Gold & Green Classic in Maryville and St. Joseph, September 9-10. The Tigers (2-2) will face Northwest Missouri (Noon) and Rockhurst (3 p.m.), Friday, Sept. 9 in Maryville. ECU will then head to St. Joseph for Saturday, Sept. 10 to face Missouri Western (9 a.m.) and Missouri S&T (3 p.m.).
The Tigers started the season with a 2-2 record at the South Central Classic, falling in the both matches opening day before rallying for two five-set wins on Saturday. ECU was paced by junior
Madeline Mayer, who hit .219 (42k-17e-114ta) for the weekend, while adding eight service aces, 16 digs and 10 (1-9) blocks.
Northwest Missouri went 4-0 to start the season and hit .221 as a team, while holding their opponents to a .123 mark. The Bearcats are leading their opponents in all categories on the season box, with bigger advantages in 1.7 to 0.8 service aces and 2.2 to 1.4 in blocks. Maddy Bruder is the top producer for NWMS, with a .333 (64k-27e-159ta) average, six aces, 39 digs and seven (1-6) blocks.
Rockhurst comes into the weekend with a 2-2 record and holding a .212 to .175 advantage in hitting percentage over their opponents. Alyssa Woodman is the team's leader with a .219 (65k-22e-196ta) hitting percentage, seven aces, 47 digs and seven block assists.
Missouri Western is also currently 2-2 on the season and is close to its opponents in most categories, including a .196 to .192 mark in hitting percentage. Blair Russell has the top numbers of the season, with a .142 (37k-20e-120ta) hitting percentage, 10 digs and three block assists.
Missouri S&T struggled in the opening weekend of the year, with a 0-4 mark on the year. Carlie Combs leads the Miners with a .154 (49k-27e-143ta) attack percentage, 19 digs and three block assists.
Missouri S&T is the only team in the field that the Tigers have yet to face in school history, with ECU trailing 0-2 in the series with Northwest Missouri, 0-1 against Rockhurst and 1-3 versus Missouri Western.
