ADA, Okla. – The East Central University volleyball team capped off the regular season and home slate in dramatic fashion, sending its seniors out with an exciting five-set win (15-25, 25-22, 27-25, 16-25, 17-15) over Oklahoma Baptist University on Thursday night inside an electric Kerr Activities Center. The victory secures ECU's fifth consecutive appearance in the Great American Conference Championship Tournament.

ECU finishes GAC play at 7-9, earning the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament. The Tigers will face No. 3 Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Thursday, Nov. 20 at FireLake Arena in Shawnee.
 
"Tonight was a tremendous team win," Head Coach Danielle Essix said. "Our group stayed composed, trusted each other, and executed when it mattered. They made big plays in big moments, stayed aggressive, and battled through some long, tough rallies. Their competitiveness and composure earned this win and our spot in the GAC Tournament."
 
The Tigers and Bisons battled throughout the night, with momentum shifting constantly. In the opening set, the teams traded points early before OBU used a 4-0 run to take a 16-11 lead and eventually the set, 25-15. Set two followed a similar pattern, with OBU again going ahead 16-11, but ECU responded by limiting Bison scoring runs while assembling several of its own. A crucial 5-0 surge, fueled by the serving of Jayla Buford, helped the Tigers claim the set 25-22 and even the match.
 
The intensity increased in the third set, which featured multiple swings of momentum. ECU held set point at 25-24 before OBU forced a tie, but kills from Emily Pena and Peyton Spahn secured the 27-25 win and gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead. ECU aimed to close things out in the fourth and stayed close early, but OBU erupted for a decisive 10-1 run that the Tigers could not recover from, resulting in a 25-16 loss and a fifth and deciding set.
 
The Tigers raced to an 11-4 lead in the final frame, seemingly in full control, but OBU battled back to tie the score at 14-14 and again at 15-15. ECU responded with poise, though, with final kills from Faiana Halatoa and Jayla Buford sealing the 17-15 win for a thrilling finish to the home season.
 
It was a standout night for Jayla Buford, who delivered a career-high 19 kills and added 23 digs for a double-double. Faiana Halatoa and Peyton Spahn each tallied 14 kills, while Kensington White added 10 to strengthen the offensive attack. Emily Pena posted 49 assists and 17 digs for a strong double-double performance. Seniors Macey Goodwin, Bailey Kaawa, and Valentina Tijerina anchored the back row with 16, 17, and a career-high 34 digs, respectively.