SMU Mounts Comeback To Defeat ECU, 3-2

Oct. 28, 2005

SMU 3, ECU 2
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GREENVILLE, N.C.--Despite being just one point away from a 3-0 victory over SMU, East Carolina volleyball fell in five games to the Mustangs Friday night inside Minges Coliseum. The Pirates took a 2-0 lead into the third game and led SMU, 29-27, before the Mustangs rallied to win the next four points, claiming a win in the game and eventually the match.

The heartbreaking loss drops the Pirates to 13-10 overall and 4-6 in Conference USA play while SMU improves to .500 overall with a record of 11-11 while improving to 7-3 in conference action.

Pam Ferris' 19 kills led five Pirates in double-figure kills. Kelley Wernert recorded 16 and Mignon Dubenion collected 14 while Kim Jefferson and Erica Wilson tallied 13 and 12 kills respectively. Jefferson, who committed only three errors on 26 attack attempts, led ECU with a .385 hitting percentage. Libero Trish Monroe led the Pirate defense with 23 digs, reaching the 20-dig mark for the fifth time this season. Caitlin Daly also played well defensively; recording 14 digs while Ferris added 10 digs for her team-leading 12th double-double of the season. Heidi Krug reached the 60-assist mark for eighth time this season, tallying 61 on the night. Jefferson and Dubenion each picked up four block assists to lead the team at the net.

Rachel Giubilato recorded 18 kills to lead SMU while Kelly Larkan collected 12 and Caitlin Rainbird and Natalie Peters each finished with 14. Stefanie Kons led the offense with 54 assists while Madison Hill added six. Four Mustangs finished with double-figure digs led by Giubilato's 17 while Larkan, Rainbird and Jennette Evanco all tallied 11. Natalie Peters led SMU with one solo block and five block assists.

ECU took the early 1-0 lead, winning 30-21 behind seven kills from Ferris and five from Wernert. The Pirates out-hit the Mustangs .342-to-.176 en route to the game one victory.

East Carolina played nearly flawless offensively in the second game to take a convincing 30-17 win. ECU hit .452 in game two, tallying 16 kills while committing just two errors on 31 attack attempts while the Mustangs hit just .188. Ferris led ECU with four kills while four other Pirates added three in the game. After the two teams were tied 4-4 early on in game two, ECU went on a 15-1 run behind the serving of Monroe and Daly. Daly recorded three of her team-high four aces during the stretch.

The Pirates held a close lead in game three before the Mustangs came from behind to win 31-29. The Mustangs out-hit ECU .271-to-.218 while also recording four team blocks to ECU's one. Giubilato, Larkan and Rainbird combined on 15 kills for SMU.

ECU held a 22-20 lead in the fourth game before SMU went on a 10-1 run to close out the game. Larkan and Rainbird played important roles in the fourth game, combining on 11 kills and 11 digs. The Mustangs took control early on in the fifth game before finally clinching the match with a 15-9 win.

East Carolina takes a day off before returning to the court Sunday, Oct. 30 when the team hosts C-USA leader Tulsa at 1 p.m. inside Minges Coliseum.

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