UCF Downs East Carolina, 3-0

Sept. 30, 2011

GREENVILLE, N.C. - 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 Friday night at Minges Coliseum. The Pirates are now 2-11 overall and 0-4 in league play while UCF, which is receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 Poll, rose to 11-4 and 3-1.

Senior Amanda Lutzow returned from a four-game absence to rack 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 while freshman Zarah Cecich dished out 21 assists. In the blocking column, redshirt junior Kelly Derby collected a team-best four (all assists).

The Knights were buoyed by a 43-kill performance, committing just 14 errors on 119 attempts to hit .244 as compared to a .042 mark by ECU. UCF also held the upper hand in service aces (6-1), digs (63-53) and total blocks (9.0-7.0). The Pirates' defensive performance resulted in a 17.67 dig per set average for the contest, well over their season average of 12.80.

East Carolina kept the first set close through the first few points until a Kayla Keller kill gave the Knights a 7-4 lead. However, the Pirates fought back and took a 13-12 advantage when Campbell posted a kill off a Cecich assist.

The frame stayed nip and tuck for a while before a Campbell attack error capped a 3-0 run for UCF to make the score 20-17 in its favor. Hannah Allgood pulled ECU to within one at 22-21 when she put down a kill, but the Knights out-scored East Carolina 3-1 over the last four rallies to take the set.

The Pirates scored the first four points of the second interval thanks in part to three UCF attack errors, but the Knights responded with three consecutive to draw within a single score. Allgood pushed the ECU lead to 8-5 with a kill, but Delania Sarden responded to tie it at 10.

The Pirates were forced to call a timeout when Sarden connected again, putting UCF ahead 13-11, but it prove ineffective as East Carolina burned its second trailing 17-12. The Knights cruised from there, allowing just four more points to the home side on the way to taking a two sets to none lead.

The third frame was all UCF as the Knights raced to a 10-2 advantage. ECU forced UCF to call timeout when it responded with a 3-0 run to make the score 10-5, but a devastating 12-2 stretch in the Knights' favor sealed the sweep.

East Carolina remains at Minges Coliseum for its next match, closing the weekend Sunday against UTEP. First serve between the Pirates and Miners is set for 2 p.m.

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