ADA, Okla. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team defeated East Central University on Friday night in Ada, Oklahoma in straight sets. Leslie Polanco paved the way for the Blossoms tallying 11.0 points on eight kills and three service aces. She also added 13 digs on defense.  
 
UAM really controlled the match winning sets one and two, 25-20, and set three, 25-19.
 
The Blossoms and the Tigers were tight early in set one, but UAM went on a four-point run to go up, 18-13. Following a few more rallies, the Blossoms took a five-point lead and held on to it for most of the set, winning 25-20.
 
A similar pattern occurred in set two with the teams back-and-forth for most of it. The turning point in the set was when UAM had a 14-13 lead. Polanco then fired a service ace and registered a kill right after to help the Blossoms take a 16-13 lead. UAM later added a couple more insurance points, eventually winning the set, 25-20.
 
In the final set, the teams really battled. Down the stretch, it was tied up 19-19. However, UAM went on a huge run sparked by Halli Lambert and Zealia Kleitz working with Katie Pearson for three straight kills. Following a pair of attack errors, another kill by Lambert and an ECU timeout, MarKayla Dickie and Kleitz put an exclamation point on the end of the set and match with an emphatic assisted block for the win, 25-19.
 
Dickie led the team in kills with nine, while Polanco added eight.
 
Pearson totaled 28 assists on the day, while Jessica Mahan had five.
 
Polanco also totaled three service aces along with Lambert and Taylor Calhoun registering two apiece.
 
On defense, Mahan had 19 total digs leading the team, while Polanco tallied 13.
 
Dickie, Calhoun and Kleitz each registered two block assists at the net.
 
With the win, UAM improves to 8-15 overall and 3-7 in Great American Conference play.
 
UP NEXT
UAM will return to action tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at Southeastern Oklahoma.