Volleyball Hosts Houston For Pair Of League Matches
October 07, 2011 | Volleyball
Oct. 7, 2011
| Matches 15-16: Houston | |
| Date | Saturday, Oct. 8 | Sunday, Oct. 9 |
| Time | 2:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. |
| Location | Greenville, N.C. (Minges Coliseum) |
| Match Notes | East Carolina Match Notes  |
| Statistics | East Carolina Statistics | Houston Season Statistics |
| Internet Coverage | Saturday Gametracker | Sunday Gametracker | Saturday Live Video | Sunday Live Video |
| Pirate Volleyball Central | Gameday Central | Roster | Conference USA Volleyball | NCAA Volleyball |
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina closes out a four-match homestand with a pair of league contests against Houston. The Pirates and Cougars are set to square off Saturday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. with both matches occurring at Minges Coliseum.
ECU brings a nine-match losing streak into the weekend and has been swept five-straight times. The Pirates are 2-12 overall and 0-5 in C-USA action after dropping three-set decisions to UCF and UTEP at home last weekend. The contest against the Miners was close during the first two frames, but UTEP ultimately edged out East Carolina 25-23 in each interval to seize a 2-0 lead going into the intermisison.
Senior Britney Roper leads the Pirate offense with 110 kills in 44 sets played for an average of 2.50 per frame. Running that offense has been the underclassmen tandem of sophomore Kasey Kavanaugh and freshman Zarah Cecich. The latter has started the last six contests as ECU's setter and has amassed 103 assists (5.42 a/s). Sophomore Shelby Beasley has excelled defensively, owning a digs/set average of 4.06. In C-USA play, the mark is even better at 4.38 a set. She is one dig away from 200 for the season and 190 from matching Melanie Richards for the 10th most in a single year. Redshirt junior Kelly Derby is the most consistent offensive threat, putting up a .256 hitting mark with just 25 errors through 14 matches.
In looking at the Conference USA standings, Houston sits in a tie for third place with UCF, UTEP, Rice and Memphis after five league contests as each team sports a 3-2 mark. The Cougars are 10-5 overall and have dropped two-straight matches to Tulsa and SMU on the road. However, UH has captured five of its last seven decisions and started league play with three consecutive victories. Individually, the Cougars boast three players with 150-plus kills - led by Katie Norris' 164. Lucy Charuk and Stephanie Nwachukwu fall just behind with 159 and 153, respectively. Charuk also serves as the team's top blocker, having racked up 74 - good for 1.32 per set. Defensively, Natalie Keck paces the back row with 248 digs for an average of 4.51 per set. Houston resides in the top half of the league in a number of statistical categories, including hitting percentage (.242) and blocks per set (2.38).
If the Pirates are able to emerge victorious over Houston Friday, they would surpass their 2010 season output for victories as well as secure their first league win of the campaign. ECU trails in the series with the Cougars 11-1 with its only win occurring Oct. 22, 2006 in Greenville via a four-set decision. Houston has won five-straight meetings, including three by the way of a sweep.
All-Tournament Honors
Redshirt junior Kelly Derby has been named to three all-tournament squads this season at the Jefferson Cup, UNCW Mayfaire Tournament and the Thunder Invitational. The middle hitter is attacking at a .301 clip this season, a team high, and is second on the squad with 30 total blocks. Additionally, Derby has committed just 12 errors on 146 attempts in 2011.
Road #Winning
With the 3-1 victory over UNC Wilmington at Hanover Hall, the Pirates captured their first true road win since defeating Campbell in four sets at Gore Arena on Sept. 22, 2009.
Statistical Oddities
In the three matches against Virginia, Long Island and No. 1 California at the Jefferson Cup, East Carolina out-blocked and committed less attacking errors than all of its opponents, but ended up on the losing side in part to getting out-dug, tallying less kills and siding out at a lower percentage.
Getting In On The Action
Freshman Zarah Cecich played in two sets in the Jefferson Cup, experiencing her first extended action of her collegiate career. She posted two kills and dished out 12 assists to go along with seven digs and three block assists. Cecich also started the first contest of her career at UNC Wilmington, dishing out 25 assists and leading the Pirates to a four-set victory. The Indiana native has served as ECU's setter the last six matches.
Did You Know?
Head Coach Pati Rolf was selected to referee two major international volleyball tournaments this summer - the Montreux Volley Masters in Switzerland and the FIVB Women's Junior World Championship in Lima, Peru.
Among The Best
Entering this season, Rolf was one of just 46 active Division I head coaches to amass more than 400 wins in her career.
Up Next For The Pirates
East Carolina travels to Hattiesburg and New Orleans next weekend, facing Southern Miss and Tulane to begin a pair of season series with the Golden Eagles and Green Wave. The Pirates will battle Southern Miss Friday, Oct. 14 at Reed Green Coliseum with first serve scheduled for 8 p.m.
