ADA, Okla. – The East Central University volleyball team bounced back in a big way Friday night, taking down Arkansas Tech University in four sets (25-16, 25-17, 23-25, 25-16) at the Kerr Activities Center to close out the week on a high note.
With the win, ECU improves to 4-7 in GAC play and closes out its regular-season matchups against Arkansas opponents. The Tigers will take a short break from conference action before returning to the Kerr Activities Center on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to host the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith in their final nonconference matchup of the season at 6 p.m.
ECU came out strong in the opening set, recording 13 kills while committing just three attack errors to hit .250 as a team. The Tigers built momentum early with an 8-1 lead behind the serving of
Tatum Flemming and maintained control throughout the set, earning a 25-16 win to take the opening lead.
The Tigers carried that momentum into the second set, recording 10 kills and hitting .162 while limiting Arkansas Tech to a game-low nine kills. After leading as many as 12 points, ECU pulled away late to claim a 25-17 victory and move within one set of closing out the match.
Arkansas Tech responded in the third set, edging ECU 25-23 despite the Tigers recording 15 kills and mounting a comeback trailing 23-19. ECU continued to battle offensively, but the Golden Suns extended the match to a fourth set.
ECU answered with its strongest offensive showing of the night in the fourth set, posting 17 kills with just three attack errors to hit an impressive .389. The Tigers raced out to an early 9-3 lead before leading as many as 12 points again at 20-8. The Golden Suns chipped away at the lead, but a final kill from
Peyton Spahn sealed the 25-16 set victory, securing the 3-1 match win and finishing the week with a much-needed bounce-back performance.
East Central held the advantage in all but one statistical category, including kills (55-42), aces (11-5), blocks (10-6), and assists (51-40).
Addison Iman led the Tigers offensively with 20 kills and 23.5 points, while
Annabelle Nichter set a new career-high 14 kills and hit an impressive .429.
Kensington White contributed seven kills and six block assists, and
Faiana Halatoa chipped in six kills while hitting .250.
Emily Pena and
Tatum Flemming helped direct the offense, recording 17 and 25 assists, respectively. Pena also added four service aces and 11 digs, while Flemming contributed two aces.
Bryleigh Wallace anchored the back row with a team-high 26 digs.
