East Carolina University
SMU
Pirates Fall in Straight Sets to SMU
October 19, 2014 | Volleyball
DALLAS, Texas - The East Carolina volleyball team dropped its third straight match when the Pirates fell in straight sets to SMU, 3-0 [23-25, 21-25, 16-25] Sunday afternoon at Moody Coliseum. ECU falls to 9-8 overall and 2-6 in American Conference action, while the Mustangs improved to 16-4 on the season and 5-3 in league play.
The Pirates were outhit by SMU .205 to .078 and the Mustangs knocked down 43 kills to ECU's 26 as East Carolina's offensive woes continued. However, the Pirates' defense hung close with the Mustangs' as ECU posted 51 digs and 6.0 total team blocks, while SMU recorded 55 digs and 7.0 team blocks.
"We played even with the American Conference preseason favorite for two sets," Head coach Julie Torbett said. "We just couldn't finish them off in those sets. They are a very good team."
SMU had three players record double-doubles as Caroline Young finished the match with 11 kills and 10 digs, while Abbey Bybel notched 10 kills with 12 digs, and Avery Acker posted 38 assists and 13 digs.
East Carolina was led by Sydney Darden's eight kills, 13 digs and four total blocks. Lauren Bewick added 11 digs, while Zarah Cecich dished out 23 assists, six digs, three kills and pair of aces. Kierra Lee-Dunson led the Pirates with a .333 attack percentage as she connected on five kills with just one attack error on 12 attempts.
The first set saw nine ties and three lead changes as the Pirates battled to stay in the game. With the set tied at 23-all, the Mustangs took the game to set-point after a kill from Cailin Bula and won the frame on an ECU attack error, 25-23.
The Pirates again stayed close to the Mustangs in the second set as they fought through seven ties and three lead changes. SMU broke the final tie on a kill off the hands of Young to put the hosts up 21-20 which forced ECU to take a timeout. Following the break in action, the Mustangs outscored the Pirates 4-1 to win the set, 25-21, and take a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
The Mustangs controlled the third set from the start as they took an 8-3 lead and never looked back. The Pirates trailed by as many as nine points on several occasions and were unable to pull any closer as SMU won the third set, 25-16.
East Carolina looks to get back on the winning track when it returns to Greenville, N.C., to host Cincinnati Friday, October 24. First serve is set for 7 p.m., at Williams Arena inside Minges Coliseum. Live stats and video will be available on ECUPirates.com.
