East Carolina University
Memphis
Volleyball Falls To Memphis
September 28, 2008 | Volleyball
Sept. 28, 2008
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The East Carolina volleyball team was looking to bump its record back over the .500 mark in Conference USA action in a Sunday afternoon match against Memphis in Minges Coliseum. The Pirates were not able to overcome 52 kills and 14 team blocks by the Tigers, however, as ECU fell 3-1 (25-23, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23). The Pirates record now moves to 11-7 and 1-2 in C-USA action while the Tigers improve to 11-5 overall and 2-1 in C-USA.
A quick 5-1 deficit in set one could have spelled the end early for the Pirates, but they would not cave in, fighting back to eventually tie the score at 10-10 before taking a one point lead at 11-10. The teams traded points and kept the action close and competitive for the remainder of set one, as neither team established more than a two point lead. The Tigers eventually won the set 25-23, backed by Katlin Inglish's four kills and three blocks by the nation's leader, Emily Underwood. The Pirates were led by Stephanie Turner and Melissa Zentner's two kills. In the set, East Carolina managed just seven kills, compared to 18 by the Tigers.
The second set was nearly a mirror image of the end of the first, as neither team held a lead of more than two points until the Tigers grabbed the 22-19 lead before winning 25-20. Zentner collected four kills for ECU, while Turner added three to her total. Hannah Fenker paced the defense in set two, as she collected six digs. At the end of the set, the Pirates lack of offense could explain their 2-0 deficit, as the team had just a .017 hitting percentage.
To start the third set, the Pirates pulled out to the lead early, 6-4. This time, ECU would hold the lead. The team had 13-9 and 17-10 advantages before a Tiger rally cut the lead to 19-15. Memphis continued to rack up points, as the Tigers cut the East Carolina lead to just one point at 21-20. A Lizzy Bruin kill then gave the Pirates the two point lead, which they would not let go of, winning the set 25-21. Britney Roper and Katie Prast were the offensive leaders in the third set, the duo's first action in the match, as Roper pounded home three kills and Prast landed two. Katie Koop also handed out seven assists in her first set of the match.
The Pirates came out strong early in the fourth set as they were able to take a 9-5 lead after the score was tied 3-3. The Tigers, however, stormed back to tie the score at 10 each before taking the one point lead, 11-10. The teams would then be deadlocked at 12, 13, and 14 points before Memphis went ahead 16-14 and 20-17. East Carolina rallied to cut the Tiger lead to one point at 21-20 before tying the set at 23-23. But a Zentner attack error and a Tiger block by Underwood and Laura Cote followed, giving Memphis the 25-23 set win.
On the day Turner was the Pirates' leader on offense with 12 kills, to go along with nine digs, while Zentner picked up eight kills and Bruin six, as well as three solo blocks. Koop paced the setters with 20 assists and Trish Monroe added 10 digs for the defense.
East Carolina now gets ready for a road trip through the south and Hattiesburg, Miss. and Orlando, Fla. The Pirates will take on Southern Miss at 7 p.m. on Friday night before facing UCF on Sunday at 1 p.m.
