East Carolina University
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UTEP
UTEP Downs Volleyball, 3-0
September 26, 2010 | Volleyball
Sept. 26, 2010
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina volleyball team fell to UTEP for the second time in as many days Sunday as the Miners took a 3-0 victory (25-19, 25-15, 25-19) Sunday at Minges Coliseum. The Pirates dropped to 1-13 overall and 0-2 in C-USA play while UTEP moved to 10-5 in 2010 and 2-0 in league action.
Juniors Jackie Varnum and Britney Roper led the offense with seven kills apiece while classmate Amanda Lutzow picked up 10 digs on the defensive side. Additionally, freshman Kasey Kavanaugh distributed 26 assists on 33 ECU kills - a career high for the Chugiak, Alaska native in a three-set affair.
The Miners dominated the team statistics in terms of hitting percentage (.248 to .090), kills (43-33), digs (59-34) and blocking (11.0-5.0). The Pirate passing improved from yesterday's showing as UTEP managed just two service aces.
Freshman Hannah Allgood put East Carolina on top in the first set with a kill before the Miners pushed out in front by three on a Marie Therese-Joyce kill. The Pirates kept things close, trailing just 11-10 when Varnum found the floor for a kill. However, UTEP scored eight of the next 10 points to put the set out of reach - allowing ECU to come no closer than five.
A 4-1 Miner advantage in the second frame was cut down to one when Roper recorded a kill, making the score 8-7. Another crippling UTEP run, this time 11-3, then allowed the visitors to push out ahead by nine and take a comfortable two-set lead into the intermission.
The Pirates fell behind 6-2 in the third interval, but this time they fought back with a 10-4 run which gave them a 12-10 advantage and drew a timeout from the Miner bench. UTEP rallied, retaking the lead 16-15 on an Allgood attack error. It was an advantage the Miners would not relinquish. East Carolina trailed by only two at 21-19, but UTEP clinched the match by scoring the last four points.
The Pirates return to the court Friday, traveling to Birmingham, Ala., for a league matchup with UAB. First serve at Bartow Arena is set for 8 p.m.
