SAN ANGELO, Texas – The East Central University volleyball team got its 2026 season underway Friday at the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational, opening the campaign with a pair of matches in San Angelo. After falling to No. 21 Angelo State in the opener, the Tigers battled Colorado State University Pueblo through five sets before dropping a 15-13 decision in the final frame to finish the first day 0-2.
ECU will conclude the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational Saturday with two more matches. The Tigers will face Fort Lewis College at 9 a.m. before closing out the tournament against UT Permian Basin at 4 p.m.
ECU vs. No. 21 Angelo State | (18-25, 14-25, 8-25)
The Tigers opened the season against tournament host and No. 21 Angelo State, falling to the nationally ranked Belles in three sets, 25-18, 25-14, 25-8.
ECU battled throughout the opening set, trailing just 14-13 before Angelo State used a 6-0 run to create separation and take the first frame. The Belles carried the momentum into the second set before closing out the match with a 25-8 third-set victory.
The Tigers finished the match with 19 kills, but struggled to find an offensive rhythm against the Belles. Angelo State finished with 39 kills and hit .365 as a team.
ECU vs. CSU Pueblo | (25-20, 12-25, 25-23, 15-25, 13-15)
The Tigers returned to the court for their second match of the day and battled Colorado State University Pueblo through five sets in a back-and-forth contest that came down to the final points.
ECU came out strong in the opening frame, taking a 25-20 victory before CSU Pueblo answered with a 25-12 win in the second. The Tigers regained the lead with a 25-23 third-set victory, but the ThunderWolves forced a decisive fifth set with a 25-15 fourth-set win.
The fifth set featured four ties and two lead changes as neither team could pull away. ECU fought off match point after falling behind 14-11 to trim the deficit to 14-13. However, CSU Pueblo answered with a final kill to secure the 15-13 fifth-set victory.
Offensively, the Tigers showed improvement from their opening match, finishing with 53 kills compared to 52 for the ThunderWolves. ECU also held advantages in service aces, 6-4, while both teams recorded 49 assists. CSU Pueblo held a narrow 63-62 edge in digs and finished with 19 blocks to ECU's nine.
Peyton Spahn and
Lana Wright powered the Tiger offense with 10 kills apiece, while Wright led ECU with a .217 hitting percentage.
Tatum Flemming recorded 41 assists in her first collegiate start to go along with nine digs.
Jaylani Evans and
Gabriela Etter anchored the back row with 14 digs apiece, while
Briley Marion and
Bryleigh Wallace each added nine digs.
Friday marked the collegiate debuts of Etter,
Addison Iman, Flemming, Wallace,
Annabelle Nichter,
Jada Faulkner,
Reagan Hutchinson and
Kendyl Keenan. Wright and
Allie Rushing also made their first appearances in the orange and black.
ECU will look to close out the tournament on a strong note Saturday, beginning with a 9 a.m. matchup against Fort Lewis College before facing UT Permian Basin at 4 p.m.
