Published: October 10, 2008 03:53 pm      

ECU volleyball team notches upset

Ada — East Central University, behind a triple-double from junior setter Holly Hicks, picked up the biggest win of its young volleyball program Thursday night as the Lady Tigers upset 21st-ranked Midwestern State 3-1 in Lone Star Conference action at the Kerr Activities Center.

Hicks, on the strength of a .333 attack percentage, finished with a game-leading 16 kills to go along with 20 assists and 10 digs as ECU took set one by a 26-24 count, dropped set two by a 25-22 score, but bounced back to claim sets three and four by 25-23 and 25-17 decisions, respectively.

The win hiked the Lady Tigers’ overall record to 7-14 and 2-3 in the LSC while the Mustangs fell to 19-4 and 3-1.

ECU also received 12 kills apiece out of Katy Fields and Jacqueline Sparks. Fields also collected 15 digs and Sparks compiled 11.

In set three, the Lady Tigers broke a 23-all deadlock with the help of an MSU attack error, followed by a Fields kill off a Megan Kimak assist to make it 25-23.

Then in set four, ECU, clinging to a 17-15 edge, scored five straight points to take control the rest of the way. Another attack error by the Mustangs, back-to-back services aces by Kimak and consecutive kills by Hicks and Fields gave the Lady Tigers a 22-15 cushion.

ECU later ended the set and match off a Fields service ace to make it 25-17.

The Lady Tigers scored the final two points to take set one as Fields had a kill off a Sparks assist and an MSU attack error gave the hosts the win.

Also contributing big for ECU were Shayla May with 21 assists, Emily Holombek with eight kills and five digs and Kimak with 21 digs. Jessica Bell also registered four kills and Patricia Underwood added three for the winners.

Allison Schreiber compiled 36 assists and 16 digs for the Mustangs while Hillary White led MSU with 12 kills.

The Lady Tigers continue LSC play at home Saturday as they host Cameron University at 2 p.m. It will be ‘Dig Pink Day’ for breast cancer awareness as all fans are encouraged to wear pink.