Volleyball Continues League Action At Memphis
September 22, 2011 | Volleyball
Sept. 22, 2011
| Match 11: at Memphis | |
| Date | Friday, September 23 |
| Time | 8:00 p.m. |
| Location | Memphis, Tenn. (Elma Roane Fieldhouse) |
| Match Notes | East Carolina Match Notes  | Memphis Match Notes |
| Statistics | East Carolina Statistics | Memphis Season Statistics |
| Internet Coverage | Gametracker | Watch Live | Live Chat |
| Pirate Volleyball Central | Gameday Central | Roster | Conference USA Volleyball | NCAA Volleyball |
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. - East Carolina looks to break a five-match skid while continuing conference play Friday as ECU battles Memphis at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. First serve between the Pirates and Tigers is slated for 8 p.m. ET
In Huntington last weekend, ECU fell in four-set decisions to Marshall and Central Michigan while suffering a sweep at the hands of George Mason. The contest against the Thundering Herd served as the C-USA opener for both squads. Junior Kelly Derby was named to the Thunder Invitational All-Tournament Team after putting down 20 kills on 62 attempts with just seven errors for a .210 attack percentage. Another notable performance was turned in by senior Britney Roper, who tallied nine kills and a career-best 15 digs against Marshall. Both marks were team highs for the contest.
Memphis excelled during its nonconference schedule, racking up an 11-2 record. Included in that mark were sweeps over Alabama A&M, Providence, Green Bay, Murray State, Southern Illinois, UNC Greensboro and Howard. The Tigers did, however, suffer a three-set loss at home against UAB in their league opener Tuesday. Memphis is driven in large part due to its setter Hajnalka Molnar. She recently earned her second Conference USA Setter of the Week honor of the year and is the NCAA's assists per set leader with a 12.29 mark.
In the matchup with the Blazers, Junior Marija Jovanovic led the way with 14 kills while fellow junior Altrese Hawkins recorded 10, moving her past current Tiger head coach April Jauregui and into 18th place all-time in the Memphis record books with 1,019 career putaways. Junior Vesna Jelic led the Tiger defense with 14 digs, but Memphis could not overcome 10 UAB team blocks, hitting just .104 in the match.
If the Pirates are able to top the Tigers Friday, they would surpass their 2010 season output for victories as well as secure their first league win of the campaign. ECU trails Memphis 13-3 all-time and last picked up a win over the Tigers Nov. 5, 2006 in four sets - completing a season series sweep. The last time East Carolina won a true road contest in Conference USA play was Oct. 28, 2007 when it downed Rice in five sets at Autry Court (now Tudor Fieldhouse).
ROPER'S AN ACE
Senior Britney Roper finds herself ranked in the top 100 (78th) nationally in service aces per set, having produced a mark of 0.41. That total is also good for fourth in C-USA
HEY, YOU'RE ALL-TOURNAMENT!
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.
BLOCKING WITH THE BEST OF THEM
East Carolina has matched or out-blocked seven of its 10 opponents this season - including a 12-6 advantage over No. 1 California. The Pirates' average of 2.19 per set is fifth-highest in C-USA. Senior Jackie Varnum's 1.08 mark ties her for 100th nationally and puts her fifth in the league.
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 Limu, Peru.
AMONG THE BEST
Entering this season, Rolf is 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 will close out its 11-match road swing with a contest at UAB Sunday, Sept. 25. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Bartow Arena.
