SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The East Central University volleyball team continued their 2025 season at the Drury Invitational in Springfield, Missouri. The Tigers started the tournament with an unfortunate reverse sweep loss to Cameron University after taking control in the first two sets. However, ECU bounced back in dominant fashion, sweeping Lane College to earn their first win of the season and finish the opening day on a high note.
 
ECU will look to carry that momentum into the rest of the weekend as they face Northwest Missouri State and tournament host Drury University.
 
ECU 2, Cameron 3 | (25-18, 25-20, 21-25, 21-25, 4-15)
Facing Cameron for the second time this week, ECU came out strong, winning the first two sets and appearing poised for a win. The Tigers took control early with a 25-18 win in the opening set, followed by a 25-20 decision in set two. However, the Aggies responded in sets three and four, pulling away late in each to force a decisive fifth set.
 
Despite a strong start with a block by Skylar Lambert giving ECU the first point, Cameron rattled off eight straight to flip the momentum. Struggles in serve receive and unforced errors made it difficult for the Tigers to recover, as Cameron completed the reverse sweep.
 
Peyton Spahn led the offense with a career-high 16 kills. Skylar Lambert and Jayla Buford each added nine kills, also a career best for Lambert. Kensington White contributed eight kills on 14 attempts with a .429 hitting percentage, along with six blocks. Emma Greenier recorded her first career double-double with 23 assists and 12 digs. Briley Marion added 17 assists, while Macey Goodwin and Valentina Tijerina anchored the back row with 20 and 15 digs, respectively.
 
ECU 3, Lane College 0 | (25-23, 25-12, 25-19)
In game two, Lane College jumped out to a 7-3 lead as ECU struggled with early miscues. But the Tigers regrouped and steadily chipped away at the deficit. Trailing 20-16, ECU responded with a 7-0 run to surge ahead, and a kill from Jayla Buford secured the 25-23 win in the opening set.
 
Set two was all ECU. A kill from Peyton Spahn ignited an 8-0 run that pushed the Tigers ahead 11-3. Lane tried to respond but never recovered, as ECU cruised to a 25-12 victory.
 
Set three was more competitive, with the Tigers building an early lead before Lane made a brief push. ECU stayed composed, stringing together multiple scoring runs to stretch the lead to 19-11. A final kill by Kensington White sealed the 25-19 win and the sweep.
 
Spahn again paced the offense with 12 kills, the only player to reach double digits. White turned in a career performance with nine kills and five service aces, leading a serving effort that saw ECU tally 14 aces, which ties for the most in a three-set match in program history.