ADA, Okla. – The East Central University volleyball team came out on top in a thrilling four-set battle against Henderson State University on Friday night inside the Kerr Activities Center. With both teams entering the match tied at 4-4 in Great American Conference play, the Tigers pulled away late to secure a hard-fought 3-1 win (25-21, 25-23, 19-25, 25-23).
 
Despite both teams posting nearly identical numbers in kills, aces, blocks, and digs, ECU found the edge in high-pressure moments to clinch the win.

"This was a statement win for us," Head Coach Danielle Essix said. "After dropping last night, we regrouped and shifted our focus to the importance of this match. We've been right there in so mant tight matches, and tonight we finally finished the way we're capable of. We executed with confidence when it mattered most, especially in that fourth set."
 
"Wins like this are extremely hard and allow us to stay in the top half of the GAC and show the growth we've been working for all season. I'm really proud of how our team rose to that challenge and proves that when we trust each other, we can beat anyone."
 
The Tigers set the tone early, racing out to a 14-6 lead and later holding a dominant 20-10 advantage. Henderson State battled back to cut the deficit to 23-20, but a kill from Adelle McCormick and a service error by the Reddies closed out the first set in favor of ECU, 25-21.
 
In the second, ECU once again started strong, jumping out to a 3-0 lead and extending it to 16-11. Henderson responded with a steady run, eventually tying the set at 18-18 and taking a 23-20 lead. But the Tigers refused to fold, mounting a clutch 5-0 run behind the serve of Jayla Buford to steal the set 25-23 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Henderson State came out swinging in the third, building an early six-point lead at 11-5. ECU answered with a 6-0 surge powered by Valentina Tijerina's serve to even the score at 11-all. The Tigers grabbed a 16-13 lead, but the Reddies regained momentum down the stretch and closed out the set 25-19 to stay alive.
 
The fourth set proved to be the most intense of the night. ECU jumped ahead 10-6 before Henderson responded with six unanswered points to take a 12-10 lead. The teams went back and forth, trading points with neither side leading by more than three. The score was tied 11 more times, the last at 23-23, before a Reddies miscue and a massive block from Faiana Halatoa and Kensington White sealed the 25-23 win and a 3-1 match victory for the Tigers.
 
Jayla Buford led the Tiger offense with a career-high 17 kills and 16 digs, notching a double-double in the win. Faiana Halatoa and Peyton Spahn followed with nine kills each, while Halatoa added 12 digs. Emily Pena tallied 24 assists and 14 digs for another Tiger double-double. Defensively, Kensington White and Adelle McCormick made their presence felt at the net, with White posting seven kills and six block assists, and McCormick adding six kills and four block assists. Valentina Tijerina anchored the back row with a team-high 19 digs.
 
The Tigers will wrap up their regular season GAC Arkansas slate on the road, taking on Harding on Thursday, Oct. 23, and Arkansas Tech on Friday, Oct. 24.