FULTON, Miss. — East Central Community College volleyball secured its first sweep of the season Wednesday night, defeating Itawamba Community College 25-20, 25-22, 25-20 in a MACCC road contest.
The Warriors (7-4, 5-3 MACCC) were anchored by freshman libero Emily Truan, who turned in another standout defensive performance with 34 digs across three sets. Her relentless coverage extended rallies and frustrated ICC's hitters from start to finish.
Itawamba Sports Information Director Adam Gore summed up her effort best: "The sea covers most of the world, but Emily Truan covers the entire court."
Offensively, sophomore outside hitter Ainslee Copeland led the charge with 16 kills on a .378 hitting percentage, finishing with 16.5 points. Freshman outside hitter Cecilia Hikari-Hosaka added 12 kills and two aces, providing balance on the pins.
Sophomore middle blocker/setter Riley Tosseng delivered one of her most versatile performances of the season, totaling 10 kills, three service aces, and three block assists. Freshman setter Anna Wojtczak kept the Warriors in rhythm with 37 assists and chipped in five digs to round out the attack.
East Central's efficiency improved as the match progressed, hitting .225 in the first set, grinding through a tighter second, and closing with a .283 mark in the third. In total, the Warriors finished with 46 kills on a .214 team hitting percentage and pressured the Indians with eight service aces.
The defense was just as effective, with ECCC compiling 68 digs and 10 team blocks. Alongside Truan's back-row dominance, Tosseng, Addison Vaughn, and Hikari-Hosaka made timely contributions at the net. The Warriors' coverage and blocking held Itawamba to just 62 points across the three sets.
The sweep marked a milestone for East Central's inaugural volleyball campaign, representing the program's first three-set victory. Despite a roster featuring only two sophomores, the Warriors continue to show steady growth against experienced MACCC competition.
With the victory, East Central improved to 7-4 overall and 5-3 in conference play, moving firmly into the upper half of the league standings. The Warriors and Indians will square off again on Monday, Sept. 29, at 6:30 p.m. inside Founders Gymnasium on Community Bank Court in Decatur. The home matchup gives ECCC an opportunity to defend its floor and extend its winning streak.