East Carolina University
Campbell
Pirates Fall To Campbell In Grueling Five-Set Match
August 24, 2012 | Volleyball
Aug. 24, 2012
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- The East Carolina volleyball team rallied to force a deciding fifth set Friday night against Campbell, but lost the decisive set (17-15) in its season opener inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. It was the first-of-three matches the Pirates will play at the two-day East Carolina Classic.
The Pirates held a 14-11 advantage in the determining frame, but two errors and a kill by Campbell sophomore Brooke Kelley knotted the set at 14-all. Junior Whitney Campbell gave ECU a 15-14 lead before three consecutive attack errors provided the Camels with their second straight five-set win over the Pirates.
After winning two of the first three sets, Campbell held a 16-13 lead in the fourth set when ECU Head Coach Pati Rolf called timeout. The Pirates then scored 12 of the next 16 points to take the set, 25-20. Junior transfer Nicole Willis recorded four kills down the stretch along with three from Campbell and fellow junior Hannah Allgood. Zarah Cecich clinched the match with an ace on Kelley.
Campbell opened the match with a 25-22 victory in the first set, but ECU outlasted its instate rival, 33-31, in set two. The largest lead of the second was four points by Campbell at 10-6. After Campbell tied the set at 13-all, neither team would again go ahead by more than two points.
Serving with a 24-23 lead, ECU was unable to block Kelley's kill that forced the set into extra points. The Pirates had five shots at winning the set before Kelly Derby spiked the ball into the Camels' court to tie the match.
The Camels took a 2-1 lead after winning the third set by the same 25-20 score.
Allgood, Campbell and Willis all produced a double-double. Willis made her ECU debut with a match-high 30 kills and 15 digs. Allgood recorded 13 kills and 19 digs, while Campbell posted 12 kills and 20 digs. Junior Shelby Beasley led all players with 25 digs.
The Pirates finished with 76 kills with Cecich being credited with an assist on 72. Campbell made just 48 kills, but committed only 19 hitting errors compared to the ECU's 51 as the Camels out-hit the Pirates .176-.137.
Campbell proved to be very active around the net, recording 17 total team blocks while ECU made just five.
The Pirates will continue play at the East Carolina on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Bethune-Cookman before entertaining Charlotte later that night at 7 p.m.
