ADA – The East Central University volleyball team will opening the 2017 home season by hosting the Tiger Invitational, Sept. 7-8 at the Kerr Activities Center.  The invitational will include two others teams from the Great American Conference (Henderson State and Southern Nazarene) and three non-conference teams (Dallas Baptist, Langston and Cameron).

The ECU matches start at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 7, when the Tigers face Dallas Baptist.  ECU will then face Langston (11 a.m.) and Cameron (7 p.m.), Friday, Sept. 8.

2017 Tiger Invitational Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 7
5:30 p.m.          Henderson State vs. Langston
7:30 p.m.          ECU vs. Dallas Baptist

Friday, Sept. 8
9 a.m.               Henderson State vs. Dallas Baptist
11 a.m.             ECU vs. Langston
1 p.m.               Southern Nazarene vs. Dallas Baptist
3 p.m.               Henderson State vs. Cameron
5 p.m.               Southern Nazarene vs. Langston
7 p.m.              ECU vs. Cameron

The Tigers (0-4) struggled to get their offense going in the opening matches of the season, at the Washburn Invitational, hitting .055 (118k-91e-490ta) as a team and allowing a .255 (174k-64e-488ta) mark.

Senior Alex Campbell led the way for ECU, with 34 kills, 10 digs and four (1-3) total blocks.  Freshman Kasey Beeler and senior Lily Porsa were strong on defense.  Beeler earned four service aces and 28 digs, while Porsa added four aces and 67 digs.

This year's tournament is the first hosted by the Tigers since 2015 when ECU was part of the South Central Classic.  In that tournament, the Tigers went 2-2, with wins over Oklahoma Panhandle State and Texas A&M-Commerce.

Of the teams that ECU will face in the tournament, the Tigers are 0-3 when playing Dallas Baptist, 2-1 against Langston and 2-4 versus Cameron.  ECU has played one match against DBU at home (0-1), two against Langston (1-1) and four versus Cameron (0-4).

The Lady Pirates are 3-1 after starting the season at the South Central Classic, earning wins over host Southeastern Oklahoma State, Cameron and Southern Arkansas.

The Lions are 0-5 on the season, with a match at home against Randall set for Tuesday, Sept. 5 before coming to Ada.

The Aggies has a slow start to the 2017 season, going 1-3 at the South Central Classic.  Cameron defeated Southern Arkansas, but fell to Southern Nazarene, Dallas Baptist and Ouachita.   But Tiger fans will see a familiar face on the sidelines, as former ECU player Tatiana Booth is now the head coach of the Aggies.