East Carolina University
Norfolk State
Volleyball Splits To End VT Tournament
September 05, 2009 | Volleyball
Sept. 5, 2009
East Carolina 3, Norfolk State 0
BLACKSBURG, Va. - After dropping a three-set decision to Arkansas in the morning, the East Carolina volleyball team responded with a sweep over Norfolk State in the afternoon session on Saturday at the Virginia Tech Tournament at Cassell Coliseum. The Pirates are now 2-4 this season.
For her efforts during the VT Tournament, senior setter Hannah Fenker earned All-Tournament honors.
ECU edged out to a 5-2 lead in the first set against the Razorbacks, but Arkansas produced an 8-1 run that put it in front, 10-6. The Pirates came back with a 7-3 run of their own to even the score at 13. With the frame level at 19, the Razorbacks scored five of the next seven points to give themselves set point at 24-21, but ECU had another answer, fending off numerous potential game-ending rallies to tie the frame at 25-25. However, Arkansas secured the next two points to grab the extra-time set win.
Both squads attempted 42 attacks in the interval, but the Razorbacks recorded more kills (16-11) to out-hit the Pirates .190-.095.
Arkansas established a 3-0 lead at the beginning of the second set, but ECU pulled within 7-5 on a Stephanie Turner kill. That was as close as the Pirates would get as the Razorbacks took advantage of 15-9 and 22-15 on their way to the 25-15 frame victory.
Sideout percentage was the story of the set, as Arkansas sided out at a stellar 78 percent as compared to just 45 percent for East Carolina. The Razorbacks also out-hit the Pirates .308-.033.
ECU jumped ahead 5-1 in the third frame, but as in the first set, Arkansas rallied to take a 6-5 lead. The Pirates fought point for point for the next few rallies, but the Razorbacks proved too much, topping East Carolina 25-17 to clinch the match.
Four Pirates put down six kills in the match in Turner, Lizzy Bruin, Melissa Zentner and Britney Roper. Senior Katie Prast led the squad defensively, notching 10 digs.
Arkansas enjoyed the advantage in many of the statistical categories, including hitting percentage (.294-.193), kills (45-32) and digs (48-37).
After a 7-7 tie in the first frame against Norfolk State, ECU ripped off a 6-0 run to take control 13-7. The Pirates did not relent from there, allowing the Spartans to come as close as just 17-9 on their way to a 25-14 win.
East Carolina gave up just four kills in the frame while recording 11 of its own.
With the Pirates leading comfortably in the second set, 16-10, Norfolk State mounted a furious rally, getting within 21-18 before ECU quelled the rally. The Pirates scored four of the next seven points to take the 25-21 triumph.
The teams were nearly even in kills, East Carolina tallying 11 to the Spartans' 10 but Norfolk State committed 10 errors to hurt its cause.
The third set was all Pirates at the beginning, as ECU sprinted out to an 11-0 lead. The Spartans then used a 9-4 run to minimize their deficit at 15-9, but the Pirates proved too much, ending the contest with a 25-18 win.
Turner once again paced the offense, notching nine kills. Zentner also proved effective, picking up seven kills on 12 attempts with two errors for a .417 hitting percentage. Prast also added to her team lead in digs, picking up seven.
East Carolina recovered from two poor hitting efforts to post a .200 percentage, owning the advantage in kills (35-25) and committing less errors (17-23).
The Pirates return to the court next weekend, traveling to Winston-Salem State for the WSSU Lady Rams Invitational. ECU opens play on Sept. 11, squaring off against WSSU at 1 p.m. and UNC Asheville at 7 p.m. at the Gaines Center.
