SHAWNEE, Okla. – The East Central University volleyball team had a historic night Thursday, completing a thrilling four-set victory over Oklahoma Baptist University (25-21, 21-25, 25-23, 25-19) to not only secure the series sweep, but also set a new benchmark in program history.
 
With the victory, the Tigers earned their 16th win of the season, surpassing the previous record of 15 wins in a single season. This monumental achievement marks a significant milestone for ECU volleyball, one that highlights the exceptional leadership of second-year head coach and ECU volleyball alum Danielle Essix.
 
ECU opened the match strong with a competitive first set, featuring 11 ties and two lead changes. OBU tied things up again at 20-all, but ECU pulled away with a 5-1 scoring run to win the set 25-21.
 
Set two mirrored the first, featuring nine ties and several lead changes. The Tigers trailed by just one point at 18-17, but a 5-0 run from the Bison pushed their lead to 23-17. ECU fought back, closing the gap, but a final kill from the Bison sealed the set 25-21, tying the match 1-1.
 
OBU carried their momentum from the second set into the third, jumping to a quick 7-2 lead and then extending it to 14-5. Despite the large deficit, Tigers steadily fought back, eventually tying the set at 18-18. From there, both teams exchanged points, but a crucial kill from Odalys Gonzalez and a service ace from Valentina Tijerina helped ECU close out the set 25-23, taking a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
In set four, both teams traded momentum, with each side answering back to reclaim the lead. Midway through, ECU took a 16-13 advantage and used that to ignite a strong offensive surge. The Tigers extended their lead to 20-17, and despite a late push from OBU, ECU finished strong, sealing the set 25-19 and the 3-1 match victory.
 
The ECU volleyball team delivered a dominant performance, recording their second-best hitting percentage of the season at .297, while holding Oklahoma Baptist to .205. The Tigers also outdug (91-85), outblocked (10-5), and scored more points (77-72) than the Bison, showcasing their all-around strength.
 
Odalys Gonzalez and Emma Strickland had standout performances. Gonzalez posted an impressive 23 kills and 17 digs, while Strickland added 17 kills and 15 digs. Julia Kabala set the tempo for the offense with 52 assists and 20 digs, while Angel Nahinu and Faiana Halatoa played key roles at the net, each recording four blocks. In the back row, Valentina Tijerina and Macey McAmis were solid, contributing 16 and 12 digs, respectively.
 
The ECU volleyball team will play in their final regular-season match at home against Southern Nazarene University on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 6 pm. Prior to the match, ECU will honor their six seniors – Angel Nahinu, Julia Kabala, Odalys Gonzalez, Jada Abercrombie, Ashleigh Miller, and Emma Strickland.