ADA, Okla. – The East Central University volleyball team began its 2022 season Friday and Saturday with a total of four nonconference matches at the 14^th Annual Kathleen Brasfield Invitational in San Angelo, Texas. The Tigers ended the two-day tournament 0-4.
 
Match 1 | ECU vs Texas A&M Kingsville
ECU fell to TAMUK in a five-set contest (12-25, 15-25, 25-16, 25-20, 11-15) in their opening matchup on Friday despite fighting back from an 0-2 deficit. The Tigers recorded 48 kills and hit .145 for the match; however, the Javs 59 kills and .200 hitting pct. gave them the offensive advantage to secure the victory.
 
Thalianette Garcia and Lisa Gonzalez earned the Tigers' first double-doubles of the season. Garcia recorded 10 kills and 11 digs and Gonzalez put up 20 assists and 11 digs. Leah Lawson also had a strong performance on the court, dishing out 19 assists. Jade Coates garnered 6 kills, 2 block assists and a .400 (6k-2e-10ta) hitting pct. during her freshman debut.
 
Match 2 | ECU vs. New Mexico Highlands University
The Tigers, despite winning the first two sets of the match, were unable to claim victory against NMHU (25-19, 25-14, 19-25, 18-25, 8-15) in their second contest on Friday. This was the second straight five-set match for ECU.
 
Emma Strickland recorded a season high 16 kills while Nyah Walker posted a strong 10 kills to land themselves on the kill leaderboard. Aloni Jordan also had a strong performance at the net earning 7 kills and a .312 hitting pct. Anmarie Dominick garnered a career high 22 digs and was only one of two Tigers to reach double digits in digs. Lisa Gonzalez recorded her second straight double-double of the season with 20 assists and 15 digs. She now has seven career double-doubles.
 
Match 3 | ECU vs. Colorado State University-Pueblo
ECU kicked off day two of the tournament falling to opponent Colorado State University-Pueblo in three sets (16-25, 14-25, 20-25). After a late push in the third set, the Tigers were unable to catch up to the Thunderwolves.

Nyah Walker led the way offensively with 10 kills in the match. Ashleigh Miller was the next highest with 4 kills. Alejandra Delgado led the team in digs. Lisa Gonzalez was just one dig shy of earning another double-double with 12 assists and 9 digs. Jordan, Gonzalez, Dominick, and Lawson each recorded a service ace.
 
Match 4 | ECU vs. Angelo State University
In the last matchup of the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational, the Tigers fell to No. 13 Angelo State in straight sets. The teams battled all three sets, but a few key scoring runs from the Belles allowed them to pull ahead and close the match (25-20, 25-19, 25-19).

Ashleigh Miller, Emma Strickland and Nyah Walker led the Tigers with 5 kills each with Aloni Jordan and Jada Abercrombie claiming 4 kills of their own. Leah Lawson recorded her first double-double of the season with 10 assists and 11 digs. Alejandra Delgado tallied 14 digs to make her new career total of digs 861.
 
Setter Lisa Gonzalez earned a spot on the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational All-Tournament Team.
 
The East Central University volleyball team will be back in action Wednesday, Aug. 31 against UCO in Edmond, Okla. at 6:00 p.m.