Pirates Look To Snap Skid At UNC Wilmington
September 08, 2011 | Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2011
| Match 5: at UNC Wilmington | |
| Date | Friday, September 9 |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. |
| Location | Wilmington, N.C. (Hanover Hall) |
| Match Notes | East Carolina Match Notes  |
| Statistics | East Carolina Statistics | UNC Wilmington Statistics |
| Internet Coverage | Tournament Live Stats | UNC Wilmington Live Chat |
| Pirate Volleyball Central | Gameday Central | Roster | Conference USA Volleyball | NCAA Volleyball |
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WILMINGTON, N.C. - Looking to snap a three-match skid, East Carolina continues its road swing Friday by taking on former CAA rival UNC Wilmington in the second match of the Hilton Garden Inn Mayfaire Tournament at newly-renovated Hanover Hall. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m. as the schools meet for the 65th time.
The Pirates have held the upper hand in the series lately, winning 14-straight matches against the Seahawks. The last time UNC Wilmington came out on top was during the 1998 season when the schools were conference mates. In the next-to-last match of that season, the Seahawks knocked off ECU in five sets.
UNC Wilmington has split its last four matches heading into the weekend, most recently dropping a 3-0 decision to Campbell Tuesday evening in Buies Creek. Overall, the Seahawks are 3-4. Their defense and serving have excelled as UNCW is averaging 1.64 aces and 14.0 digs per set. Freshman middle hitter McKenzie Keightley was named the Colonial Athletic Association's volleyball Rookie-of-the-Week last week as she earned All-Tournament Team honors in the George Washington Invitational last weekend. The first-year player fashioned a team-best .519 hitting percentage and posted 14 kills (1.40 kills per set) in guiding the Seahawks to a 2-1 finish in the event.
If the Pirates were to pick up a win against UNC Wilmington, they would match their 2010 season output for victories as well as improve to 28-37 against their former Colonial Athletic Association rivals. ECU has also triumphed in the last 13 meetings between the schools.
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.
BLOCKING WITH THE BEST OF THEM
If there is a positive to be taken away from the Pirates' play at the Jefferson Cup, it is the blocking effort. In each match, East Carolina out-blocked its opponent - including a 12-6 advantage against No. 1 California. ECU is currently the top blocking squad in Conference USA, averaging an impressive 2.71 per set.
THE BEST OF YOUR CAREER
A few Pirates excelled personally in the season opener, setting new career highs. Amanda Lutzow tallied five blocks (four assists) while Kasey Kavanaugh contributed two service aces. In the match with the Bears in Virginia, Jackie Varnum piled up a personal-best nine blocks (eight assists).
TRACKING SIDEOUT PERCENTAGE
An important factor for ECU in the four-set win over the Bulldogs was sideout percentage. The Pirates edged Gardner-Webb .560 to .540 and sided out at more than 60 percent in two of the sets - including a match-best 64% in the momentum-swinging third frame.
