Published: November 02, 2009 04:43 pm      

Angelo State tops East Central in extended volleyball match

ADA — East Central and Angelo State battled through five sets and then some as the visiting Rambelles came away with a 3-2 Lone Star Conference volleyball victory over the Lady Tigers Saturday at the Kerr Center.

ECU won the first set by a 25-21 count, before ASU claimed the next two by 25-23 and 25-22 scores. The Lady Tigers then forced a fifth set with a 25-17 triumph in the fourth.

The fifth set went extra as the two teams were unable to get a decision at point number 15.

But Angelo State wrapped up the set and match with 21-19 decision in set five.

Katie Coleman’s kill off from an Alaina Sivells assist lifted the Rambelles to the win as they improved to 16-13 overall and 8-3 in the LSC.

ECU, which fell to 14-19 and 5-6, had four players reach double digits in kills while senior setter Holly Hicks, playing in her final home match, recorded a triple-double with 10 kills, 27 assists and 10 digs. She also had seven block assists to boot.

Senior outside hitter Jacqueline Sparks, also playing in her final home match, posted 16 kills to go with eight digs for the Lady Tigers.

Katy Fields registered 13 kills and 12 digs and senior Emily Holombek ended up with 12 kills in her home finale.

Sophomore setter Shayla May also compiled 20 assists for ECU and sophomore libero Megan Kimak finished with a team-leading 19 digs.

ECU also had one of its better blocking matches of the season as freshman Rachel Watson ended up with nine block assists and one solo to go along with her six kills.

Sivells and Chelsea Gibson posted 14 kills apiece for the Rambelles while Caroline Cleveland and Coleman ended up with 10 apiece.

Alex Woolsey had a match-leading 28 assists and Alex Allard finished with 23. Kimber Duncan compiled 22 digs for ASU.

Prior to the match, the Lady Tigers’ four seniors – Hicks, Holombek, Sparks and Chelsea Whitmire - were honored.

ECU, trying to fight for a postseason LSC Tournament berth, closes out the regular season with road matches at Texas A&M-Commerce on Thursday at 7 p.m. and at Texas Woman’s University next Saturday at 2 p.m.