East Carolina University
Tulsa
Tulsa Dispatches Volleyball, 3-0
October 03, 2009 | Volleyball
Oct. 3, 2009
TULSA, Okla. - The East Carolina volleyball team struggled for the second-straight night, dropping a 3-0 (15-25, 18-25, 18-25) decision to Tulsa Saturday night at the Reynolds Center. The Pirates fall to 8-9 overall and 1-4 in Conference USA action while the Golden Hurricane improve to 12-5 on its campaign and even its league record at 2-2.
After a 6-6 tie in the first set, Tulsa ripped off a 7-1 run to assume a 13-7 lead, drawing an ECU timeout. The margin would stretch to 20-9 before the Pirates responded with a 5-2 run to pull within 22-14, but the Golden Hurricane recovered with three of the next four points to close out the frame.
A 5-0 run by Tulsa to start the second set extended to an 8-2 lead, forcing East Carolina to use its first timeout. A 4-1 stretch by the Pirates temporarily closed the deficit to 9-6, but the Golden Hurricane re-established some breathing room with a 5-3 run. ECU rallied again and came within 21-15, but Tulsa was able to shut the Pirates down, scoring four of the last seven points.
East Carolina held the lead for much of the beginning of the third interval, but the Golden Hurricane broke a 9-9 deadlock with a 5-1 run that gave it a 14-10 advantage it would not relinquish. The Pirates came as close as 21-17, but Tulsa was able to push through and clinch the match.
Britney Roper paced the offense, recording seven kills while setter Hannah Fenker fell just shy of her third double-double of the week, handing out 15 assists and adding nine digs. At the net, Kelly Derby tallied a career-best eight blocks and Roper fell just behind with seven.
The Golden Hurricane out-hit ECU .162 to -.036 while also out-digging the visitors, 58-44. The Pirates did have the advantage at the net though, recording 13 blocks to Tulsa's nine.
East Carolina remains on the road for its next contest, traveling to Memphis Friday for a conference tilt at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. First serve is set for 8 p.m.
