Women's Volleyball

The Falcons (14-7) hosted the NJCAA Region 16 Seeding Tournament and made a statement to the other teams that they are the top team in the region. Flying through the tournament with convincing victories in each of their matches, the home team did not look back. Wins over Cottey College and Northeastern Oklahoma set the tone for the afternoon match-up with region rival MCC-Longview.

Nicole Mannino And Samantha Walch Blocking- Photo by Bill BattleThe East Central College Falcons were in top form as they downed William Woods JV and Central Methodist JV by scores of 25-13, 20-25, 25-20, 25-16 and 25-13, 25-9, 25-11 respectively. Nicole Mannino and Stephanie Heim displayed their sophomore experience in having their best matches of their careers in the hitting efficiency category against the two squads.

Natalie DavisAfter a rocky start to the season in the Johnson County Tournament last weekend, the Falcons are back to their winning ways. The Falcons clawed their way to victory with a match that went the distance at Meramec on Wednesday evening 25-13, 22-25, 20-25, 25-16, 15-8. East Central was led offensively by Natalie Davis who had 17 kills, 5 blocks and a .483 hitting percentage in a match to jumpstart the team in the win column.

Erica LaBoubeFalcons’ Volleyball Team sophomore captain and middle hitter, Erica LaBoube, was recently named NJCAA Women’s Volleyball Second Team All-American. Along with All-American honors, Erica was twice selected to the NJCAA Region XVI First Team and the Midwest Community College Athletic Conference First Team. During her playing career in a newly reinstated program at East Central College, Erica has set the bar high in career statistics.

Jamie Murray and Erica LaBoube Blocking photo by Bill BattleThe East Central Falcons fell short in their first game at the NJCAA National Tournament in the Wisconsin Dells. After dusting of the butterflies and facing an early deficit at the hands of Parkland College, the Falcons made a couple of runs to claw their way back in each game. Eventually, the Falcons fell in three games by scores of 17-25, 12-25, 17-25.

2008 REGION XVI/ DISTRICT O CHAMPIONSEast Central College claimed the first NJCAA Women's Volleyball Region 16/District O Title in school history on Saturday at STLCC-Florissant Valley. The Falcons by flew past Meramec in three games in the semi-final match (25-20,25-16,25-12). The championship match against MCC-Longview went down to the wire as ECC dropped the first two games and came back to win three straight (21-25,20-25,25-17,27-25,16-14). The fifth game was hard fought and decided by a 16-14 score.

Volleyball Team CelebrationThe inaugural recruiting class for the second year of the volleyball program at East Central College played their last home match on Tuesday evening. The sophomores Anne Jacquin, Jamie Murray, Amber Locke, Alyssa Speckhals, Stephanie Garrett, Erica LaBoube, Megan Santhuff and Kari Blankenship were honored between the Lindenwood matches with flowers, balloons, autographed balls and posters. The crowd was electrified by the ECC Jazz Band and the home team did not disappoint the fans.

ANNE JACQUINThe Falcons have reached the 30 win mark on the season with a victory in three games over the Saint Louis College of Pharmacy 25-14, 25-21, 25-17. After dropping two games last weekend the Falcons (30-8)slipped to #17 in the latest NJCAA poll. Hoping to rebound and finish the season strong, East Central faces Mineral Area College in the Midwest Community College Athletic Conference Finale. The Falcons are poised to make a run for the Region XVI title in the post season.

Erica LaBoubeThe East Central Falcons, 29-8, finished 2-2 in the Lincoln Land Tournament in Springfield, IL. The Falcons have been plagued with ankle injuries and entered the tournament without Alyssa Speckhals, Amber Locke and Nicole Mannino. ECC beat Kankakee 25-21,25-23,26-28, 21-25,15-1 and Culver Stockton 25-17,25-14,25-4 in two matches. In the other two matches, the Falcons didn't fair as well falling to Allen County,KS and Highland County,KS. Erica LaBoube was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Jamie MurrayThe NJCAA #8 Falcons, now 27-6 on the season, cruised past McKendree JV 25-16 and 25-20 in a tri-match on the McKendree campus in Lebanon, IL. East Central was tripped up by John Logan in the second match by scores of 25-17, 23-25, and 10-15. The Falcons look to return to their winning ways in a weekend tournament at Lincolnland in Springfield,IL.