PITTSBURG, Kan. – The East Central University volleyball team played in two matches on the second day of the 2019 Gorilla Classic, falling 3-0 to Missouri Western and Southwest Baptist.

Match 1 – MWSU 3, ECU 0
Scoring

• Set 1 –L, 23-25
  • The Tigers (0-3) jumped out to an early 5-0 lead
    • Fr. Danielle Specht earned two-straight service aces in the span
  • The Griffins (3-0) fought back and tied the set at seven
  • The teams battled through the next 12 serves to cause a 13-13 tie
  • MWSU went on a 6-0 run to take their first lead (16-13)
  • The Griffins held the lead until ECU used a 5-1 run to tie the set at 23
  • MWSU then scored the next two points for the win
• Set 2 – L, 22-25
  • The teams traded the first 14 serves to a seven-all tie
  • The Tigers went on a 4-0 run to take an 11-7 advantage
  • The Griffins fought back to tie the set at 13
  • The set was tight the rest of the way, with the final tie coming at 22
  • MWSU then went on a 3-0 run to win the set
• Set 3 – L, 8-25
  • The Griffins came out on fire, taking a 9-0 lead
  • MWSU kept up the pressure throughout the rest of the set

Match 2 – SBU 3, ECU 0
Scoring

• Set One – L, 22-25
  • The Bearcats (1-1) earned a 6-3 advantage early and held the lead around three
  • The Tigers used a 5-1 run to tie the set at 11
  • Teams traded next two points before ECU went on a 3-0 run to take their first lead
  • SBU kept fighting and used a 5-0 run to knot the set at 20
  • The Bearcats kept up the pressure and used a 5-2 run to claim the set
• Set Two – L, 16-25
  • The teams traded the first four serves before SBU went on a 4-1 run to take the lead
  • The Bearcats held the pressure through the rest of the set
• Set Three – L, 15-25
  • The set started out close, resulting in a four-all tie
  • SBU then went on a 4-0 run to take the lead for good

Tiger Quick Hits

• Fr. Zaniya Norvell led the team offensively in the day's matches
  • 10 kills, .208 hitting percentage, two service aces, three block assists
• Sr. Kaitlyn Coffey also added 10 kills
  • Three service aces, 12 digs
• Jr. Sydney Dungen tallied 27 assists
  • Three kills, two service aces, three block assists
• Jr. Kasey Beeler led the team on defense
  • 18 digs, three service aces
• The Tigers tallied 14 service aces on the day
  • Eight against MWSU and five against SBU
  • Six ECU players garnered two-or-more service aces
    • 3 – Coffey, Beeler
    • 2 – Norvell, So. Taylor Greenameyer, Specht, Dungen

Up Next

• ECU will finish the Gorilla Classic against Western Colorado, Saturday, Sept. 7 (11:30 a.m.)
• The Tigers will then travel to Dallas Baptist, Tuesday, Sept. 10 (6 p.m.)