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ADA, Okla. – The East Central University volleyball team hosted it's second home GAC match of the week, falling in five sets to Arkansas Tech University (26-24, 25-27, 24-26, 25-14, 10-15).
 
"We have to be consistent and battle every time," Head Coach Cheri Lindsay said. "We need to be where our feet are and do our job."
 
ECU took an early 2-0 lead to start out the first set. The two teams exchanged points back and forth with nine lead changes throughout the set. A 3-0 run by Arkansas Tech got them to match point at 24-21, but a come from behind 5-0 run by ECU closed out the set 26-24.
 
The Tigers had a slow start in the second set as the Golden Suns picked up six consecutive points. ECU answered back with an 8-1 run to put them up 8-7. Both teams had their own scoring runs to put them ahead, but it was ATU that reached match point first at 24-21 once again. Despite the Tigers going on a 3-0 scoring run to tie it up 24-24, the Golden Suns would eventually finish the set 27-25.
 
Set three was neck and neck between ECU and ATU for majority of the game. The Golden Suns were up 22-20 until the Tigers answered with a 3-0 scoring run to put them up 23-22. ECU would have match point 24-23, but ATU would go on a 3-0 run of their own to secure the third set 26-24.
 
The Tigers came out strong on their home court in set four with a 13-1 scoring run to put them up 15-3. ECU would continue to apply the pressure and never looked back, ending the set 25-14 and forcing the fifth set.
 
ECU had the first kill of the fifth set, but ATU quickly responded with six of seven points to take the lead 6-2. The Tigers closed the gap within three at 10-7, but the Golden Suns never let up and solidified the deciding set 15-10 and the match victory 3-2.
 
Emma Strickland led the offense for the Tigers with 20 kills while Nyah Walker was next with 12 and Aloni Jordan with 10 in the five-set match. Ashleigh Miller posted seven kills, and Kemyra Landry was close behind with six. Two players earned double-doubles on the night- Emma Strickland and Leah Lawson. Strickland tallied 14 digs to her 20 kills while Lawson added 34 assists and 11 digs. Lisa Gonzalez was one dig away from a double-double with 12 assists and nine digs. Alejandra Delgado led the defense with 16 digs along with three service aces.
 
The East Central University volleyball team will travel to Arkadelphia, Arkansas for two road GAC matches against Ouachita Baptist University Thursday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. and Henderson State University Friday, Oct. 7 at 4 p.m.