ADA, Okla. – For the first time since the 2013 season, the East Central University volleyball team will head to Hot Springs, Ark., for the 2021 Great American Conference Championship Tournament, Thursday, Nov. 18-Saturday, Nov. 20.

The Tigers (15-13, 11-5 GAC) finished ranked No. 5 in the GAC standings and will face No. 4 Harding in the semifinal round, Thursday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bank OZK Arena.

ECU had three players named to the All-GAC Second Team at the annual awards banquet prior to the start of the tournament.  Sr. Alejandra Delgado, RJr. Thalianette Garcia and Fr. Emma Strickland each earned the accolade.

2021 Volleyball All-GAC Honorees

Delgado has been a strong defensive presence for the Tigers this season.  She has garnered 591 digs, 21 service aces and 82 assists in 2021.  The Cidra, Puerto Rico, native's digs rank her no. 3 on the ECU Single Season Digs list, while she is also in the No. 8 spot on the Career Digs List (787).  Her 5.63 digs per set is the most in the GAC this season.

Garcia, who claims her second-straight GAC Second Team honor, is tied with Strickland for the most kills on the season, with 292.  The Ceiba, Puerto Rico, native also adds 13 assists, 30 service aces, 295 digs, three block solo and 24 block assists.  She is ranked on the ECU Single Season and Career Double-Doubles List (12/25).

Garcia is just the second Tiger in GAC history to claim back-to-back honors, joining Tatiana Booth (2011-12).  Holly Kicks claimed first team honors two years in a row in the Lone Star Conference.

Strickland has been a key starter for ECU as a true-freshman.  She has tallied 292 kills, 13 assists, nine service aces, 253 digs, six block solos and 32 block assists.  The Mansfield, Texas, native's 2.89 kills per set currently ranks No. 9 on the GAC season list.

The Tigers were also represented by RSr. Sydney Dungen and Jr. Ilani Myers as GAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes, two of the 29 total Elite and Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the volleyball programs that advanced to the tournament in 2021.

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Tiger Quick Hits

• The Tigers secured their first winning season in school history with a 3-0 sweep of Southeastern Oklahoma State last week
  • First time ECU defeated the Savage Storm 3-0 in both matches in the regular-season
• The Tigers also claimed a 3-2 victory at Southern Nazarene in the final week of the regular-season
  • Only the second win over the Crimson Storm in the all-time series
  • sixth win overall against SNU in the series
  • Have won the last five matches
• ECU also set the record for most wins in a single season - 15
  • Previous high was 14 in 2011 and 2009
• Sr. Alejandra Delgado claimed her third GAC Defensive Player of the Week honor in 2021
  • Averaged 6.75 digs per set, with 54 over the week
  • Added 8 assists and 2 service aces
  • Ranked No. 8 on ECU Career Digs List - 787
  • Ranked No. 3 on ECU Single Season Digs List - 589
  • Garnered her 30+ digs performance of the season
    • 36 digs at SNU – No. 4 ECU Single Match Top-10 List
• RJr. Thalianette Garcia earned a double-doubled at SNU
  • 22^nd career double-double – No. 6 ECU Career List
  • 12^th double-double of the season – No. 4 ECU Single Season List
  • Moved onto two other ECU Single Season Lists
    • No. 9 Kill – 292
    • No. 5 -Attacks 967
• RSr. Sydney Dungen added her 25^th career double-double against the Savage Storm
  • No. 4 on the ECU Career Lists
• Dungen is ranked on seven total ECU Career Lists
  • No. 1 Matches Played – 129
  • No. 3 Sets Played – 446
  • No. 3 Kill Pct. - .256 (Heading into the 2021 season)
  • No. 1 Service Aces – 115
  • No. 5 Digs – 916
  • No. 2 Assists – 2,734
• Dungen is also ranked on two GAC Career Lists
  • No.7 Assists – 2,734
  • No. 9 Service Aces – 115
• Sr. Aloni Jordan and RSo. Kemyra Landry moved onto single season top-10 lists for blocks
  • Jordan is ranked in two categories
    • No. 8 Total Blocks – 84
    • No. 7 Block Assists – 73
  • Landry is ranked No. 10 Total Blocks – 74
• The three selections to the All-GAC Second team is the most in a single season
  • 2011- 2 Second Team, 1 Honorable Mention
  • Account for the sixth, seventh and eighth All-GAC Second Team accolades in the league's history

Against the Competition

• The Tigers claimed their first win in the all-time series against Harding during the regular-season
  • W, 3-2 (25-21, 25-27, 26-28, 25-23, 15-13)
    • Service aces became the key difference in the match
      • ECU - 11 / HU – 3
    • Garcia, Fr. Emma Strickland and Sr. Lisa Gonzalez all earned double-doubles
      • Garcia: 14 kills, 14 digs, 3 service aces, 1 block assist
      • Strickland: 14 kills, 26 digs, 2 assists, 1 block solo, 3 block assists
      • Gonzalez: 28 assists, 13 digs, 1 service ace
  • The Bisons (16-8, 12-4 GAC) lead 11-1 in the all-time series
  • This will be the second meeting on a neutral court
    • First was the first match in the all-time series
      • Sept. 5, 2009 – L, 1-3 (N)
• ECU is 1-2 in the normal format of the GAC Tournament
  • 2012: L, 2-3 vs. Southern Arkansas
  • 2013: W, 3-0 vs. Southeastern / L, 0-3 vs. Arkansas Tech