WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The East Central University volleyball team came close to breaking Southwestern Oklahoma State's 10-match home winning streak, but ended up falling 3-2 (20-25, 20-25, 25-16, 26-23, 15-11).
Scoring
- Set 1: 25-20
- After the Tigers (13-11, 9-3 GAC) claimed the first point of the match, the Bulldogs (16-6, 10-2 GAC) went on a 4-0 run
- ECU fought back to get within one (4-5) and kept up the pressure to tie the set at eight
- The Tigers then used a 4-0 run to gain the lead for the rest of the set
- ECU used small runs through the remaining time to push the advantage to as many as nine (22-13)
- SWOSU did not give up and used a 7-2 run to get within four late
- Set 2: 25-20
- The Tigers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead
- The Bulldogs battled back and tied the set at seven
- The teams then traded small runs and points to a 13-all tie
- ECU then gained a two-point advantage to push the momentum in its favor
- The Tigers pushed ahead further, with a 4-0 run (20-15)
- SWOSU got back within three (23-20), with a 5-3 run
- ECU took the next two points to win the set
- Set 3: 16-25
- The Bulldogs pushed out to a 5-0 advantage and never let up
- The Tigers made a late push and cut the disadvantage to seven
- Set 4: 23-25
- The teams traded points and small runs to a 9-9 tie
- ECU used a 3-0 run to gain an advantage (12-9)
- Things remained close and the teams traded serves throughout the set
- The Tigers went up 20-17 before SWOSU went on a key run
- The Bulldogs used a 5-0 run to gain the lead for the rest of the set
- The teams traded the final serves, but the advantage was enough for SWOSU to tie the match at two sets each
- Set 5: 11-15
- The final set was a sample of the entire match
- 9 tie scores / 5 lead changes
- The final tie came at 10-all
- The Bulldogs then took control with a 4-0 run (13-10)
- The final points were again traded, but SWOSU had the needed advantage to claim the victory
Tiger Quick Hits
- The teams were close in most statistical categories
- Kills: ECU 59 / SWOSU 58
- Attempts: ECU 210 / SWOSU 208
- No. 6 on ECU 5-Set Match top-10 list
- Assists: ECU 57 / SWOSU 57
- Service Aces: ECU 6 / SWOSU 8
- Digs: ECU 102 / SWOSU 94
- No. 7 on ECU 5-Set Match top-10 list
- Total Blocks: ECU 11.0 (3-8) / SWOSU 16.0 (2-14)
- There was a total of 25 tie scores and 12 lead changes throughout the match
- The Tigers saw double-doubles from three players
- Sr. Lisa Gonzalez: 19 assists, 20 digs
- Third double-double this season
- RJr. Thalianette Garcia: 19 kills, 1 service ace, 2 block assists, 15 digs
- 19th career double-double
- Fr. Emma Strickland: 11 kills, .235 (11k-3e-34ta) hitting pct., 1 service ace, 14 digs
- Seventh double-double of the season
- RSr. Sydney Dungen was close to earned a double-double
- 31 assists, 3 service aces, 9 digs
- RSo. Kemyra Landry and Sr. Aloni Jordan led the team hitting
- Landry: .444 (9k-1e-18ta) hitting pct., 2 block solos, 1 block assist, 1 dig
- Jordan: .400 (10k-2e-20ta) hitting pct., 1 block solo, 3 block assists, 4 digs
- Sr. Alejandra Delgado led the defense with 35 digs
- No. 5 on ECU Individual Match Dig Record list
- Third time this season with 30+ digs in a match
- Sept. 10, 2021 vs. Newman – 30
- Oct. 9, 2021 vs. Arkansas-Monticello – 31
- Only third time a player had three 30+ dig performances in the same season
- Megan Kimak in 2009 and 2011
Up Next
- The Tigers, who have already secured a spot in the Great American Conference Championship Tournament will have two matches next week
- ECU will first return home to face Oklahoma Baptist, Tuesday, Nov. 2 – 7 p.m.
- The Tigers will then hit the road to battle Northwestern Oklahoma State, Friday, Nov. 5 – 6 p.m.
- The final week of the regular-season will also have a home and away match
- Tuesday, Nov. 9 at Southern Nazarene – 7 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 11 vs. Southeastern Oklahoma State – 7 p.m.
