Pirate Volleyball Continues Long Road Swing In Ohio This Weekend
September 08, 2005 | Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2005
GREENVILLE, N.C.--East Carolina volleyball will hit the road again this weekend as the team travels to Bowling Green, Ohio to face Ohio State, Chicago State and host Bowling Green, Sept. 9-10, in the 2005 BGSU Invitational Tournament. The Pirates, who have won three of their last four matches, will look to continue their strong play this weekend against a field that includes nationally-ranked Ohio State.
ABOUT THE PIRATES
ECU (3-2) is coming off back-to-back wins this past Saturday over High Point and Tennessee Tech at the Broyhill Inn Appalachian Classic in Boone. Senior outside hitter Pam Ferris has been the top player for the Pirates through five matches, leading the team in kills (77), kills per game (4.05), attack attempts (181) and digs (71). Ferris, who is averaging just over 15 kills per match, is also averaging 14 digs per match to lead the Pirates. Fellow senior outside hitter Erica Wilson leads the team with a .324 attack percentage, collecting 63 kills while committing only 16 errors in 145 attack attempts. Defensively, ECU has five players with at least 27 digs thus far. In addition to Ferris' 71 digs, libero Trish Monroe and outside hitter Katie Jannusch have each collected 60. Senior libero Johanna Bertini (50) and sophomore setter Heidi Krug (45) rank fourth and fifth respectively in digs. Middle blockers Jaime Bevan and Kim Jefferson have each tallied 13 total blocks to lead the Pirates while Wilson has picked up 12.
ABOUT OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes, ranked as high as No. 12 nationally by the USA TODAY/CSTV Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll this week, enter the tournament with a record of 3-1.OSU has wins over Toledo, Cleveland State and nationally-ranked Long Beach State while their lone loss came against No. 1 Nebraska. Ohio State is led offensively by Danielle Meyer, who has 94 kills (6.71 kpg) and an attack percentage of .320. Meyer, who also leads the team with 12 total blocks, is one of seven Buckeyes with at double-digit digs. Marisa Main, who is third on the team with 31 kills, leads the team in assists (158) and attack percentage (.368). Brittany Dahms leads the OSU defense with 47 kills.
ABOUT BOWLING GREEN
The host Falcons enter the invitational with a record of 2-3 with wins over Dayton and Illinois-Chicago and losses to Dayton, College of Charleston and James Madison. BGSU has a balanced attack offensively with eight players having collected at least 15 kills this season. Meghan Mohr has 53 kills to lead the team while setter Chrissy Gothke has a team-leading .360 attack percentage with 22 kills and just four errors on 50 attack attempts. Gothke has 128 assists (6.40) to lead the Falcons while Annie Griffin is second on the team with 54. Chelsey Meek and Emily Manser lead the defense with 65 and 63 kills respectively. Corrie Mills leads BGSU with 19 total blocks.
ABOUT CHICAGO STATE
The Cougars, who have started the season 0-6, will be looking for their first win this weekend at the BGSU Invitational Tournament. Chrissy Davis and Zuzana Pokovicova are the top players offensively for CSU. Through six matches, both Davis and Pokovicova have totaled 44 kills apiece. Lekeisha Davis has 68 digs thus far to lead the Cougar defense while Pokovicova has collected 65. Catherine Everist is leading the offense with 148 assists thus far.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES
The Pirates will be playing all three BGSU Invitational Tournament teams for the first time in school history this weekend.
UP NEXT FOR ECU
The Pirates will stay on the road for the third straight weekend when the team travels to Spartanburg, S.C. to face Charleston Southern and Wofford, Saturday, Sept. 16, in the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Volleyball Classic.
