ECU Volleyball Season Preview: Part III - Middle Blockers
September 01, 2014 | Volleyball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Part III of the 2014 East Carolina volleyball season preview focuses on the middle blockers and middle hitters who will don Purple and Gold this fall. Head coach Julie Torbett welcomes back junior Kierra Lee-Dunson and sophomore Ashley McRae, while adding freshman Natalie Montini to the mix in the middle.
"We have three middle blockers going into the season," Torbett said. "We have two returning players in Kierra as well as Ashley. Those two saw considerable playing time last season."
Lee-Dunson led the Pirates in hitting percentage a year ago as she tallied 181 kills on 416 attempts with just 63 errors for an average of .284. She also was the team leader in blocks as she finished the year with 103 total blocks to average 0.91 per set. Additionally, Lee-Dunson added 237.5 points, 23 digs and a pair of service aces in 113 sets of action.
The Atlanta, Ga., native recorded a career-high 12 kills in the Pirates' 3-2 victory over Middle Tennessee last November. She also posted a career-best seven total blocks at Appalachian State to help East Carolina record a 3-2 win over the Mountaineers which marked the Pirates' first win over App State since 1992.
"Kierra had the highest hitting percentage on the team last year," Torbett said. "She has been really solid and stayed the entire summer to workout. She set a school record in squats and cleans in the weight room. So we're really excited about her and what she's going to be able to do in the middle.
"She is starting to get a lot of confidence," Torbett continued. "So that's really nice to see. She's got a quiet personality, but on the court it is starting to emerge."
McRae returns to the court for ECU after playing in 56 sets and 24 matches as a freshman. She finished the year with 58 kills (1.04 per set), 44 total blocks (0.79 pet set), four digs and two assists. She tallied a career-best nine kills versus Charlotte and led the team with eight total blocks against UAB for a new career-high.
"Ashley got some playing time as a freshman," Torbett explained. "She had a couple of really good matches last season. She's just a really springy kid that's way up there above the net and tall. She's really fast and explosive, so she's a fun player to watch."
Montini rounds out the middles for East Carolina as the incoming freshman comes to Greenville after playing four years at Reynolds High School. During her prep career, she was named the MAC Player of the Year and earned First Team All-WNC honors. Montini was a finalist for the All-WNC Female Athlete of Year award during her senior year and she helped the Rockets capture the 2013 MAC Conference Championship.
"Natalie is an incoming freshman from Asheville, N.C." Torbett said. "Like Ashley, she is also really springy and fast. I like the middles to be really quick. So I see all of them competing for time in the middle this season."
East Carolina is preparing to open the 2014 campaign Friday, September 5. The East Carolina Invitational is a two-day tournament which will feature the Pirates, Tennessee Tech, Norfolk State and Morgan State.
