ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The East Central University volleyball team concluded their Arkansas road trip with a battle of the Tigers against Ouachita Baptist University. Unfortunately, the Tigers struggled offensively, falling to the purple Tigers in straight sets (24-26, 20-25, 16-25) at Sturgis Physical Education Center on Friday.
 
With the loss, ECU's record now stands at 6-3 in GAC play, while Ouachita improves to 5-4.
 
The match looked promising for ECU in the first set as they jumped out to an early 8-3 lead. Despite Ouachita earning six consecutive points to take the lead, the Tigers answered with a six-point scoring run of their own to regain the advantage at 15-12. Both teams traded scoring runs until tied at 24-all, but Ouachita ultimately clinched the set 26-24.
 
Set two mirrored the first with ECU initially leading 7-3 before Ouachita went on a dominating 13-2 scoring run to propel them ahead at 16-9. The Tigers battled to close the gap, trailing 23-20, but the purple Tigers finished off the last two points for the 2-0 lead.
 
In the third set, Ouachita maintained their momentum, seizing the lead from the outset and never looking back, winning decisively 25-16 to take the match 3-0.
 
Ashleigh Miller led with eight kills and three blocks, while Emma Strickland and Faiana Halatoa collected seven kills apiece. Julia Kabala tallied 23 assists and 13 digs, and Valentina Tijerina recorded 15 digs.
 
The ECU volleyball team will hit the road again on Tuesday, Oct. 22 for a non-conference matchup against Oklahoma Christian at 6 pm.