DALLAS, Texas – The East Central University volleyball team kicked off their 2025 season on Friday, Sept. 5, at the Dallas Classic Tournament, returning to the Burg Center for a second consecutive year. ECU opened the day with a 0-3 loss to Minnesota State Moorhead before battling host Dallas Baptist University in a hard-fought match. Despite pushing the final set into extra points, the Tigers ultimately fell 0-3, closing out the opening day of competition.
 
On their first day competing at game speed with a new-look squad, the Tigers came up just short in several tightly contested sets, three of the six falling by only two points and another by three. Despite it not being the start they had hoped for, there were plenty of bright spots. ECU displayed a balanced offensive attack, with multiple players stepping up and contributing across the board. In their collegiate debuts, Jayla Buford led the charge with 17 kills and 23 digs, while Kensington White made her presence felt at the net with seven blocks. Returner Faiana Halatoa was right behind Buford, tallying 16 kills to lead the group of returning players.
 
ECU 0, MSUM 3| (23-25, 17-25 22-25)
The first set of the new season was a tightly contested affair, with neither team leading by more than two or three points. Trailing 20-18 late in the set, the Tigers capitalized on four MSUM errors and a kill from Kensington White to surge ahead 23-21. However, two late miscues by ECU tied the score at 23-all, and the Dragons closed the comeback with a kill and a service ace to steal the set 25-23.

MSUM carried the momentum into set two, taking an early lead and never looking back. The Dragons used several scoring runs to pull away, while the Tigers struggled offensively, recording their lowest team hitting percentage on the day. ECU trailed 22-13 before a brief 3-0 run, highlighted by two Faiana Halatoa kills, offered a spark. But MSUM quickly shut the door, taking the set 25-17.

The Tigers regrouped in the third set, putting together their best offensive performance of the day with a .214 hitting percentage. Much like the first set, the teams traded leads early on. A 5-1 run midway through the frame, sparked by a Seran Eran kill, gave ECU a 15-11 edge and renewed energy. The Dragons answered with a 3-0 run, but strong attacks from Jayla Buford and Halatoa extended ECU's lead to 17-14. Unfortunately, MSUM responded once again, this time with a 4-0 run, to regain a 23-20 advantage. The Tigers couldn't recover and dropped another close set, 25-22, as the Dragons completed the sweep.

The Tigers spread their offense out, with Faiana Halatoa and Jayla Buford leading with seven kills each, while Karielys Maldonado and Seran Eran were next with five kills. Emily Pena directed the offense, dishing out 26 assists, and Valentinja Tijerina recorded 12 digs.
 
 
ECU 0, DBU 3 | (18-25, 23-25 27-29)
In their second match of the night, ECU took on tournament host Dallas Baptist University in what proved to be a rollercoaster battle full of momentum swings and gritty rallies.

The Tigers came out strong in set one, jumping to an early 4-1 lead. However, three consecutive service aces by DBU quickly erased the gap and gave the Patriots the momentum to pull ahead 8-5. The hosts continued to apply pressure from the service line, extending their lead to as much as 14-8. Down 20-13, ECU showed signs of life with a 4-0 run fueled by aggressive serving from Emily Pena, cutting the deficit to 20-17. But DBU responded with a strong 5-1 finish to take the first set, 25-18.

After trailing 8-5 in set two, ECU found a spark when Macey Goodwin stepped to the service line and helped the Tigers deliver seven straight points, stalling the Patriots and giving the Tigers a 12-8 lead. ECU worked to maintain the advantage, but DBU slowly chipped away until tying the set at 19-19. A 4-0 run by the Patriots once again gave them late control, 23-19. The Tigers fought back to close within one at 24-23, but a final DBU kill sealed the second set and put ECU down two sets to none.

Set three was a marathon, filled with back-and-forth rallies and clutch plays. Both teams traded points early on, but DBU eventually pulled ahead and looked poised to cruise to a sweep. However, the Tigers refused to go quietly. Small scoring bursts helped close the gap before a 4-0 run, highlighted by a pair of Jayla Buford kills, brought ECU within two at 20-18. DBU pushed to 23-20, but a relentless Tiger response tied the score at 23-23. The two teams traded set points in extended play, but DBU capitalized on a pair of late ECU errors to take the set 28-26 and complete the sweep.

Jayla Buford led the Tigers with her first career double-double, finishing with 10 kills and 15 digs. Faiana Halatoa added nine kills. Emily Pena and Briley Marion split the setting duties, with Pena tallying 20 assists and Marion adding nine.

The Tigers will look to bounce back tomorrow as they wrap up the DBU Classic with two matches, first against St. Edward's at 11:30 a.m., followed by Southwest Baptist at 4:30 p.m.