ECU Hosts UAB, Savannah State this Weekend
October 03, 2013 | Volleyball
Oct. 3, 2013
ECU-UAB Live Stats | ECU-UAB Live Video
ECU-Savannah State Live Stats | ECU-Savannah State Live Video
GREENVILLE, N.C. -The East Carolina volleyball team is looking to snap a five-match losing streak this weekend when the Pirates play host to Conference USA foe UAB on Friday, October 4, at 7 p.m., followed by a non-conference affair versus Savannah State on Saturday, October 5, at 3 p.m. The contest marks the Pirates' first home contest in nearly one month as they have been on the road since September 7.
The Matches
ECU is looking to snap a five-match losing streak this weekend when it plays host to Conference USA foe UAB on Friday, October 4 at 7 p.m., followed by a non-conference affair versus Savannah State on Saturday, October 5 at 3 p.m. The Pirates will be playing in their first home contest in nearly one month as they have been on the road since September 7.
The Series vs. UAB
The Pirates and Blazers will meet for the 22nd time in program history and UAB holds a 16-5 advantage in the all-time series. UAB has won the last nine meetings against East Carolina dating back to 2006 when the Pirates defeated the Blazers, 3-1 [33-31, 27-30, 30-27, 30-21], in Greenville, N.C. The last time the two teams met, UAB swept ECU, 3-0 [14-25, 19-25, 13-25] in Birmingham, Ala.
The Series vs. Savannah State
The Pirates and Tigers will go head-to-head for just the second time in program history and ECU holds a 1-0 edge in the series. In the only meeting between East Carolina and Savannah State, the Pirates swept the Tigers, 3-0 [25-2, 25-10, 25-11], in 2009 at the Winston-Salem State Invitational.
Last Time Out
The Pirates are looking to get back on the winning track after dropping five consecutive matches dating back to September 21. East Carolina opened Conference USA action over the weekend and dropped a pair of 3-0 decisions to North Texas and Rice. At Rice, Nicole Willis led the Pirates in kills for the 17th straight match this season and Whitney Campbell recorded a team-best 13 digs. Willis was the only Pirate to record double-figure kills with 10, while adding nine digs, two blocks and one assist. Campbell led the defensive effort with 13 digs to go along with seven kills, while Erika Figueroa recorded 10 digs, and Shelby Beasley notched nine. Zarah Cecich recorded a team-best 16 assists and also posted five digs in the setback.
About the Pirates
East Carolina is currently on a five-match losing streak as the Pirates have not won a contest since September 20, when they defeated Appalachian State in five sets. ECU owns a 7-10 overall record and is 0-2 in Conference USA action. As a team, the Pirates have accumulated 662 kills to average 11.41 per set, while averaging 10.81 assists per game. Defensively, ECU ranks sixth in the conference with a digs per set average of 15.03 while limiting opponents to a .187 average which is also good for sixth in the league. Senior opposite hitter Nicole Willis is the team's leader in kills with 237 to average 4.09 per set which ranks third in C-USA and 35th in the NCAA. Willis has amassed a team-best 264.0 points for a 4.55 points per game average to place fourth in the conference and 38th in the nation. The Raleigh, N.C. also contributes 178 digs (3.07 per set), 30 total blocks (0.52 per set), 17 assists and 10 service aces. Senior libero Shelby Beasley paces the back row with a team-leading 212 digs to average 3.66 per set which ranks in the top 15 in the conference. Junior Zarah Cecich and freshman Bella Borgiotti share setter duties as the duo have combined for 549 assists on the year. Cecich has dished out a team-best 434 helpers to average 8.19 assists per set which is good for 13th in Conference USA, while Borgiotti's 115 assists are good for an average of 5.48. Sophomore Kierra Lee-Dunson is the Pirates' leader in blocks with 45 to average 0.82 per set to rank 15th in the league. She also adds 78 kills, 11 digs and two assists.
Scouting the Blazers
UAB comes into Minges Coliseum with a 12-6 overall record and is 1-1 in Conference USA action. The Blazers opened league play with a 3-2 win over Southern Miss on Friday, but dropped a five-set contest to Tulsa on Sunday. UAB is 8-2 in three-set matches this season and is 2-2 on the road. The Blazers are hitting .255 on the year which ranks second in the conference. They have also amassed 888 kills to average 13.25 per set, while registering 819 assists for an average of 12.22. UAB leads the conference in blocks per set with 2.58 after totaling 173 on the year. The Blazers have tallied 963 digs this season to average 14.37 per set. Sam Skinner leads the team in kills with 278 for an average of 4.15 which is good for second in the league. She also adds 130 digs, 40 total blocks and 14 service aces this season. Becca Howard is UAB's setter and she leads the conference with 746 assists to average 11.13 per set. Sara Rishell tops C-USA in blocks per set as she has accumulated 86 total blocks for a league-leading average of 1.28 per set. Defensively, Rachel Fairbanks is the team-leader with 323 digs for an average of 4.82 which is good for fourth in the league.
Scouting the Tigers
Savannah State brings an 0-18 record into the match at East Carolina and is 0-2 in MEAC action. The Tigers are looking for their first win since November 4, 2010 when they swept Paine College. Since then, Savannah State has dropped 80 consecutive contests as the Tigers went 0-27 in 2011 and 0-34 in 2012. This season, the Tigers are hitting -.017 and averaging 6.8 kills per set. Defensively, Savannah State owns 612 digs for an 11.1 digs per game average. Bianca Brochu leads the Tigers with 78 kills to average 1.42 kills per set. Caitlynn Masoe is the Tigers' setter as she has dished out 258 assists to average 4.69 per set. Bryana Gadis leads the team with 113 digs for a 2.05 per set average. She is also second on the team with 77 kills (1.40 per set). Christian Lyle is the Tigers' leader in blocks with 27 as she averages 0.49 per game.
The National Spotlight
Senior opposite hitter Nicole Willis has been on an offensive tear as of late. The Raleigh, N.C., native leads the Pirates with 4.09 kills per set and 4.55 points per set and both are nationally ranked marks. Willis' kills per game average is good for 35th in the NCAA, while her points per set average ranks 38th in the nation.
Cracking the Top Ten
Senior Shelby Beasley and junior Zarah Cecich have broken into the East Carolina record book top 10. Beasley has moved up to a number four spot on the career digs list with 1,151. She is now 95 away from third-place. Cecich cracked the top 10 with 1,466 career assists. She is 210 assists away from the ninth-place spot.
Where There's a Willis There's a Way
Senior opposite hitter Nicole Willis owns a team-best 237 kills to average 4.09 per set. The Raleigh, N.C., native has also contributed 178 digs (3.07 per set), 30 blocks (0.52 per set), 17 assists and 10 service aces this. She has notched double digit kills in 14 out of 17 contests this season. She has also led the team in kills in every match this season. Willis' kills per set average ranks her third in the conference and 35th in the NCAA. Additionally, she averages 4.55 points per set which is good for fourth in the league and 38th in the nation.
Helping Hands
East Carolina is platooning junior Zarah Cecich and freshman Bella Borgiotti at setter. The duo have combined for 549 assists this year. On the season, Cecich has registered 434 assists (8.19 per set), while Borgiotti has added 115 (5.48 per set). The pair have helped the Pirates average 10.81 assists per set as ECU has accumulated a total of 627 helpers on the year.
Can You Dig It?
Senior libero Shelby Beasley leads ECU with 212 digs and is averaging 3.66 digs per set. Her digs per set average ranks her 13th in Conference USA. The Winter Park, Fla., native has done her part leading the Pirate defense as the squad has registered 872 digs to average 15.03 per set which is good for sixth in the conference.
Block Party
Sophomore middle hitter Kierra Lee-Dunson owns a team-leading 45 total blocks for an average of 0.82 per set. Senior middle hitter Virginia Fitch adds 33 total blocks this year to average 0.79 per set. The duo have helped the Pirates collect 102.0 total blocks on the year for an average of 1.76 per set.
All-Tourney All The Time
The Pirates have competed in four tournaments this season and have come away with numerous All-Tournament team selections. Most recently, sophomore Torre Blake garnered All-Tournament team accolades at the Black and Gold Challenge after hitting .235 with 34 kills, eight total blocks, eight digs, and a pair of assists. Other Pirates who have earned All-Tournament team honors are: Nicole Willis (East Carolina Classic, Elon Phoenix Classic MVP), Shelby Beasley (Wake Forest Deacon Invitational, East Carolina Classic), Zarah Cecich (Elon Phoenix Classic), and Kierra Lee-Dunson (Elon Phoenix Classic).
New Leader
Head volleyball coach Julie Torbett, who was hired in February, is the 12th head coach in ECU volleyball history. The winningest coach in the Big South volleyball annals has lead the Pirates to seven victories thus far, more than tripling ECU's win total from a year ago. This season, she has guided the Pirates to five-straight wins, a feat which East Carolina had not accomplished since 2008. Torbett has brought her winning ways to Pirate Nation as she helped ECU capture its first road tournament title since 2005 with three-straight sweeps at the Elon Phoenix Classic.
ECU in the C-USA
This season the Pirates have ranked in the Conference USA top 10 in a pair of defensive categories thus far. East Carolina is sixth in opponent hitting percentage as ECU has limited its counterparts to a .187 attack percentage. The Pirates are also ranked sixth in digs per set as they average 15.03 per set.
Pirates in the C-USA
Individually, senior opposite hitter Nicole Willis is ranked in two statistical categories in Conference USA. Willis' 4.09 kills per set average is good for third, while her points per set ratio of 4.55 ranks her fourth in the league. Senior libero Shelby Beasley averages 3.66 digs per set which places her 13th, while junior setter Zarah Cecich's 8.19 assists per game average lists her 13th in that category. Sophomore middle hitter Kierra Lee-Dunson is hitting .306 on the year which ranks her 15th in the conference.
All in the Family
There are a few East Carolina family connections on the roster again this season. Sophomore Torre Blake, who has played in all 17 matches this season and is second on the team with 107 kills, is the daughter of Jeff Blake who played football at ECU and proceeded to enjoy a lengthy NFL career. Additionally, Kierra and Sierra Lee-Dunson return to the Pirates this season and Kierra leads the Pirates with a .306 attack percentage, while Sierra has seen action in a pair of matches thus far. 2013 marks the first season East Carolina will have a pair of twins on the court since Sarah and Jessica Vick donned purple and gold from 2001-03.
The "New" Conference USA
Conference USA was one of the many conferences that saw realignments over the summer. July 1, 2013 marked the addition of Charlotte, FIU, Florida Atlantic, LA Tech, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Old Dominion, and UTSA to C-USA. While the conference expanded with the eight new member institutions, it also parted ways with Houston, Memphis, SMU and UCF as all four joined the American Athletic Conference. 2013 will mark the last year of ECU's affiliation with Conference USA as the Pirates will join the American Athletic Conference beginning next season.
Coming Up...
The Pirates will hit the road for a mid-week non-conference contest on Tuesday, October 8, at Charleston Southern. First serve is set for 7 p.m. Following that match, ECU will return to Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum for a pair of Conference USA matches against LA Tech and Tulane. East Carolina and LA Tech will square off Friday, October 11, at 7 p.m., and the Pirates will go head-to-head with Tulane on Sunday, October 13, at 2 p.m.
