Final Road Matches Await Volleyball
November 10, 2011 | Volleyball
Nov. 10, 2011
| Matches 25-26: at UTEP and UCF | |
| Dates | Friday, Nov. 11 | Sunday, Nov. 13 |
| Times | 9:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. |
| Locations | El Paso, Texas | Orlando, Fla. |
| Match Notes | East Carolina Match Notes  |
| Statistics | East Carolina Statistics | UTEP Season Statistics | UCF Season Statistics |
| Internet Coverage | | UTEP Live Video | | UCF Live Video |
| Pirate Volleyball Central | Gameday Central | Roster | Conference USA Volleyball | NCAA Volleyball |
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EL PASO, Texas - The longest road trip of East Carolina's season is also its last as the Pirates travel to El Paso, Texas and Orlando, Fla. for a pair of Conference USA matches with UTEP and UCF. The Pirates will face the Miners Friday at 9 p.m. inside Memorial Gymnasium before battling the Knights Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Venue at UCF.
East Carolina enters the weekend having dropped its last 19 matches and is still searching for its first league win. The Pirates traveled to Rice last weekend and fell 3-0 twice. Sophomore Whitney Campbell capped off a fine individual weekend by tying her single-game career high of 12 kills. For the weekend, she racked up 18 kills on 40 attempts with just a single error - a .425 hitting mark. In the second match, senior Amanda Lutzow also paced the defense with 20 digs at the libero position.
UTEP holds a 7-3 lead in the all-time series between the schools while UCF also holds the upper hand against ECU with an 8-5 ledger.
The Miners are looking to bounce back from a pair of road losses against UAB last weekend. Xitlali Herrera led the squad recording her 11th double-double of the season with 15 kills and 13 digs against the Blazers on Sunday. UTEP holds national top-100 statistical rankings in kills per set (87th, 13.2), assists per set (95th, 12.23) hitting percentage (86th, 0.224) and blocks per set (72nd, 2.33). Individually, senior Stephanie Figueroa is 50th in aces per set (0.39) and 74th in digs per set (4.71); sophomore Herrera is 51st in blocks per set (1.18) and 91st in hitting percentage (0.332); sophomore Malia Patterson is 85th in assists per set (10.28).
Meanwhile, UCF split its matches at Memphis last weekend, winning 3-1 before dropping the second match by the same score. The Knights (16-10, 8-7) have excelled in front of their own fans and have put together the most successful home season since 2003, winning 10 matches inside The Venue. Guiding UCF's offense to new heights in 2011, Vukson has been one of the nation's best at the setter position all season. The Canadian native is averaging 11.96 assists per set, second in the country, and leads Conference USA in the category.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE MINERS:
East Carolina had late leads in the first two sets but could not finish, allowing UTEP to capture a 3-0 victory at Minges Coliseum. Sophomores Hannah Allgood and Whitney Campbell paced ECU offensively, recording nine kills each - a career high for Allgood. Campbell nearly posted her first career double-double, adding a personal-best 11 digs. Allgood ended the match as the team's top scorer as she also tallied a service ace and five total blocks for 13.0 points.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE KNIGHTS:
A close first set that ended in favor of visiting UCF allowed the Knights to seize a 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-11) Conference USA victory over East Carolina at Minges Coliseum. Senior Amanda Lutzow racked up a match-high 18 digs, a performance complemented by 14 out of sophomore Shelby Beasley. Offensively, sophomore Whitney Campbell and Lutzow put down six kills each.
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 16 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 kicks off its final week of regular season play next Friday, welcoming UAB to Minges Coliseum. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m., as the Pirates look to avenge a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Blazers earlier this campaign in Birmingham.
