ADA – The East Central University volleyball team will compete in three matches over the next week, with two conference matches and a non-conference match to start the week.
The Tigers (4-13, 0-5 GAC) will first travel to Cameron, Tuesday, Oct. 3 for a 7 p.m. match. ECU will then return home for two Great American Conference matches at the Kerr Activities Center. The Tigers face the top two teams in the league in Arkansas Tech (Oct. 6/6 p.m.) and Harding (Oct. 7/10 a.m.).
Earlier this season, ECU defeated Cameron (3-1) as part of the Tiger Invitational. The Tigers had one of their strongest matches of the year, hitting .205 as a team and allowed a .105 mark by the Aggies. ECU also earned an 8.0 to 5.0 lead in blocks.
ECU saw four players record at least 10 kills, with senior
Diana Etienne earned her first double-double with 12 kills and 18 digs. Senior
Alex Campbell added 11 kills, while senior
Madeline Mayer and junior
Karina Erreguin each netted 10. Defensively ECU was led by senior
Lily Porsa, with 27 digs.
Cameron was led by Bristol Lewis (15 kills) and Brook Conley (20 digs). Conley added 36 assists for a double-double.
The Aggies are 4-10 on the year and 2-5 in the Lone Star Conference. However, they fair better at home with a 3-3 mark. The only other common opponent that both teams have seen so far this season is Southern Nazarene, with both teams losing to the Crimson Storm.
The teams have not met on seven previous occasions, with ECU trailing 3-4, but having been the victor in the lone match previously played in Lawton, Okla. (Sept. 24, 2009 – W, 3-2).
The rest of the week will be a tough challenge, facing Arkansas Tech and Harding, the top two teams in the league standings. ATU is still undefeated on the season, with an 18-0 overall mark and a 5-0 record in GAC action. Harding is 15-2 overall and 4-1 in league play.
The Golden Suns have had a strong season, hitting .306 as a team and allowing just a .092 mark. There are five players who have tallied over 100 kills on the season, with Lexie Johnston leading the team. Johnston has 138 kills, a .411 (138k-22e-282ta) hitting percentage, seven service aces, 39 digs and 46 (8-38) blocks.
The Tigers are trailing 1-14 in the all-time series with ATU, including a 0-7 mark in GAC play and 1-6 when playing at home.
Harding is hitting .226 as a team and allowing a .114 mark. Harding leads its opponents in all other statistical categories, with kills per set (13.5/11.1) and assists per set (12.6/10.4) being the largest.
Harding has four key hitters, with over 100 kills on the year. Zoe Hardin is an overall threat, with 166 kills, .316 (166k-45e-383ta) attack percentage, 11 service aces, 36 digs and 75 (18-57) blocks.
The series with the Bisons is also one that has not gone in ECU's favor, with the Tigers trailing 0-8 overall, 0-7 in GAC action and 0-4 at home.
