ADA, Okla. – The East Central University volleyball team faced Southern Nazarene University for the second time this season, defeating the Crimson Storm in a thrilling three-set match (25-20, 25-20, 25-23) for their fifth straight win. ECU now improves to 8-5 in conference play.
 
"This was the most complete game of volleyball I've seen them play all year," Head Coach Cheri Lindsay said. "They played at a high level and did their individual jobs on the court. It was awesome. Shout out to the block."
 
ECU scored the first two points of the opening set, but it was SNU that grabbed the lead at 9-4. The Crimson Storm pushed it to 14-8, but an impressive 14-2 scoring run by the Tigers regained the momentum and put them back on top 22-16. With ECU in control, they closed the set 25-20.
 
Set two was similar to the first set in that SNU held an early lead at 6-2 until ECU climbed back to make it even 8-all. Both teams would tie seven more times before a 5-1 run by the Tigers put them up 19-16. Although the Crimson Storm managed to get within one at 19-18, the Tigers earned six of the next eight points to end set two 25-20.
 
SNU jumped out to an early 5-2 lead before ECU went on a 5-0 run to take over 7-5. The Tigers increased their lead to 16-12, but the Crimson Storm fought their way back to force a tie 16-16. SNU stayed within a point multiple times, but ECU never lost its lead and secured set three 25-23 and the match 3-0.
 
Emma Strickland led the Tiger offense with 15 kills on the night and was one dig short of a double-double with nine. Jada Abercrombie posted eight kills in the three-set match while Nyah Walker and Kemyra Landry had six each. Aloni Jordan had 5 kills while adding four total blocks. Leah Lawson recorded another double-double with 38 assists and 13 digs. Alejandra Delgado also added 13 digs in the back row.
 
The East Central University volleyball team will travel to Wichita Falls, TX for a nonconference matchup against Midwestern State University on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m.