Pirates Host Defending C-USA Champion Tulane
October 18, 2009 | Volleyball
Oct. 18, 2009
ECU Volleyball Gameday Central
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina volleyball team closes a quick two-game homestand Sunday, welcoming defending Conference USA champion Tulane to Minges Coliseum for a 12 noon first serve.
The Pirates assured themselves of victory for the first time in four matches, as they toppled UTEP, 3-2 (27-25, 22-25, 25-22, 17-25, 17-15), Friday evening at Minges. ECU improved to 9-11 overall and 2-6 against Conference USA foes.
Senior Hannah Fenker notched her team-leading sixth double-double of the season, picking up 11 digs to go along with 56 assists while redshirt sophomore Britney Roper continued her recent offensive prowess, joining with junior Lizzy Bruin as the duo put down 17 kills each to lead the ECU offense. Senior Melissa Zentner fell just behind her teammates with 16 while classmate Bobbie Jo Stall sat just one behind her career high with eight.
Three Pirates pulled in double-figure dig totals in the five sets, as senior Stephanie Turner contributed 13 and sophomore Amanda Lutzow joined Fenker with 11.
At the net, redshirt freshman Briana Fleener set a new career high with five blocks while Zentner matched her personal best with seven and Bruin met her season high of six.
The Miners out-hit East Carolina .190-.165, but the Pirates got the better of the blocking, recording a team season-high 14.5 stuffs as compared to 11 for UTEP, the top-rated blocking team in the league. The Miners also enjoyed a 66-51 margin in digs.
Meanwhile, for Tulane, senior setter Rachel Lindelow had a double-double with 39 assists and 11 digs, and the Green Wave offense connected at a season-high .336 clip, as they rolled past league foe Marshall Friday evening at the Cam Henderson Center. Tulane enters today's contest at 11-6 overall and 6-2 in league play.
