ARKADELPHIA, ARK. – The East Central University volleyball team earned its first Great American Conference victory of the 2017 season on the road at Henderson State, with a 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-10, 25-17) win.

The Tigers (5-17, 1-7 GAC) were paced by freshman Breanna Waldo, who tallied 16 kills, a .519 (16k-2e-27ta) hitting percentage and three (2-1) blocks.  Senior Lily Porsa led a group of four players with double-digit dig totals, with 19.

Freshman Sydney Dungen earned her first career double-double, with 28 assists and 13 digs.

The opening set was a back-and-forth battle, with six ties and three lead changes.  The final tie came at 11-all, when the Tigers used a 5-0 run to earn the advantage.  ECU built its lead to as many as five (23-18), but the Reddies (10-12, 3-6 GAC) fought back within one (23-22).  The Tigers then pushed through for the 25-23 win.

HSU took an early 3-0 lead in set two and never let it go.  The Reddies pushed the lead out to as many as six before claiming the 25-19 victory.

The third set was a reversal of set two, with ECU jumping out to an early 7-1 advantage and not letting it go.  The Tigers kept increasing the momentum in the set and claimed the 25-10 win.

The teams traded the first 10 serves in set four, before ECU gained the momentum on a 4-1 run.  The lead would be held throughout the set, increasing to as many as eight before the Tigers claimed the set and match with a 25-17 win.

ECU will remain on the road for its next match, traveling for a non-conference match against Langston, Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.  The Tigers will then return home for two league matches Oct. 20-21, which will include Senior Day (Oct. 21) against Southern Arkansas.