East Carolina University
Duke
Volleyball Drops Season Opener to No. 18 Duke
August 24, 2007 | Volleyball
Aug. 24, 2007
DURHAM, N.C. - Despite a career-high 12 kills from sophomore Peyton Thompson, the East Carolina volleyball team dropped its first match of the season 3-0 (20-30, 20-30, 22-30) to No. 18 Duke Friday evening at the Duke Invitational inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Pirates stand at 0-1 while the Blue Devils improve to 1-0 on the young season. Freshman Katie Koop turned in 29 assists in her first collegiate start at setter.
Duke outhit ECU .356 to .125 to take game one. The Pirates tied the game at 10 early on but the Blue Devils doubled them up on the way to a 1-0 lead in the match. The second game was more of the same for ECU as Duke out-hit them .326 to .146. The Blue Devils struggled to put the Pirates away in game three but managed to hold ECU to .049 hitting as they completed the sweep.
Conference USA preseason honoree and senior outside hitter Kelley Wernert posted double-digit kills with 13 to lead the Pirates along with Thompson's 12. Wernert's seventh kill of the match gave her 1,000 for her career. Koop added five kills while Stephanie Turner found holes in the Duke defense four times.
The Blue Devils out-hit the Pirates .281 to .108 while also recording 63 digs as compared to ECU's 55. Duke also out-blocked the Pirates 8-4. Jourdan Norman and Carrie DeMange reached double-digit kills for the Blue Devils with 10 and 16 respectively.
ECU returns to action tomorrow as it plays two matches the close out the Duke Invitational. The Pirates will battle No. 13 Purdue at 12 p.m. while taking on Winthrop at 5 p.m.
