Pirates Host UTEP In Conference Opener
September 24, 2010 | Volleyball
Sept. 24, 2010
ECU Volleyball Gameday Central | Pre-Match Notes 
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina volleyball team returns home this weekend, hosting UTEP for a pair of league contests Saturday and Sunday to open the 2010 Conference USA portion of the schedule.
ECU picked up its first victory of the season in its final non-conference contest, knocking off defending America East Conference champion Binghamton last Saturday, 3-2, to close out the Georgetown Classic. During the event, the Pirates also fell to Furman in three sets before dropping a four-set decision to the host Hoyas. Junior middle hitter Jackie Varnum was named to the Georgetown Classic All-Tournament Team after recording 26 kills and 12 blocks, hitting .388 and committing just seven attack errors.
UTEP enters conference play with an 8-5 record, most recently losing two of three matches at the UT-Arlington Hilton Invitational. The Miners were bested in three sets by both UT-Arlington and North Texas but they did pick up a sweep over Prairie View A&M to end the tournament. Offensively, UTEP is led by redshirt freshman Melissa Toth, who has recorded 157 kills and holds an average of 3.83 per set. Senior Patty Jarmoc has done a solid job of running that offense as she has distributed 373 assists. In terms of defense, junior libero Stephanie Figueroa tops the team by a large margin in digs (158) and digs per set (3.59).
THE SERIES: The Pirates and Miners meet for the eighth and ninth times this weekend as UTEP holds a 4-3 advantage in the series. East Carolina has won two of the last three meetings, however, including a 3-2 affair in Greenville last year. The Pirates are 2-1 against the Miners at Minges Coliseum.
LOOKING FOR A BETTER START: ECU is in its 10th season as a volleyball member of Conference USA. However, the Pirates have only secured wins in three of their nine league openers. East Carolina has downed UAB (2004), UTEP (2005) and Marshall (2008).
SETTER SWITCH: Freshman Kasey Kavanaugh has stepped in the last six matches, overtaking the setting duties for ECU. She was slated to be the starter as preseason wore on, but suffered a fractured bone in her hand, sidelining her for the first two weekends.
IT’S ALL GOOD AT THE NET: In the 3-2 victory over Binghamton, rookie Hannah Allgood made the first start of her collegiate career and significantly impacted the match. She racked up 10 total blocks as well as seven digs and two service aces. Additionally, Allgood tallied four kills on 11 attempts with just one attack error - a hitting percentage of .273.
SPEAKING OF BLOCKING...: In a 2010 season full of frustration, one positive has remained constant for the Pirates - team blocking. In defeating the Bearcats, East Carolina owned a 17-5 advantage at the net. So far this season, ECU is averaging nearly two blocks pet set (1.96) while its opponents have just 1.64 per frame. In the league rankings, the Pirates are third in blocks accrued and first in least stuffs allowed.
UP NEXT FOR ECU: The Pirates continue conference play next weekend with two matches in two different venues. East Carolina travels to Birmingham for a contest with UAB Friday at 8 p.m. before returning to Greenville Sunday to square off against Memphis at 1 p.m. ECU fell twice to both squads last season.
