East Carolina University
11-15, 4-11AAC
Memphis
16-13, 7-9AAC
Memphis Edges East Carolina in Five Sets
November 13, 2015 | Volleyball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina had Memphis on the ropes late in the fifth set Friday but the Tigers were able to rally and take a 3-2 (25-14, 20-25, 25-20, 13-25, 15-13) American Athletic Conference victory inside Minges Coliseum.
The match was played before a season-best crowd of 1,182 and the fans saw quite a show from senior libero Erika Figueroa who set the single-match program record for digs with 36. She has eclipsed the 30-dig plateau three times this season. Figueroa is now just 46 digs away from setting the new single-season standard.
"This was an all-out battle," head coach Julie Torbett said. "I am really pleased with how we fought tonight, especially using so many different lineups. Our lefty freshman setter Haley Bidgood was a weapon in the front row and she definitely has a bright future. Congratulations to Erika for her record-setting effort as well. We are looking forward to building on this and having a successful match Sunday."
Sophomore outside hitter Ashton Mares tallied her 13th double-double of the campaign with a match-high 15 kills and 13 digs. Bidgood notched her first career double-double to the tune of 11 kills and 22 assists. She did not make an error in 17 attempts, finishing with a sizzling .647 hitting percentage. Junior setter Sabrina Gonzalez also chipped in with a double-double of 29 assists and 11 digs.
Pirate middle hitters Kierra Lee-Dunson and Ashley McRae contributed 12 kills and five blocks apiece while junior outside hitter Sydney Darden continued her recent string of strong defensive play in the back row with 14 digs.
ECU had the statistical advantage in most categories, including kills (65-55), hitting percentage (.211-.190) and digs (88-75). The teams ended up dead even with 10 total blocks each. The Pirates earned more points (78.0) than Memphis (70.0) but had six more attacking errors. East Carolina was forced to call a timeout in set one after a Darden attacking error gave the Tigers an 11-6 advantage. The Pirates pulled within 14-10 later in the frame but the Tigers netted three of the next four points to build a 17-10 cushion. Memphis was ahead by as much as 22-13 before closing out the stanza with a 3-1 run.
It was a different story in set two as both Lee-Dunson twins recorded early kills to put the Pirates ahead 4-1. ECU kept the Tigers scrambling with tough serving and forced the visitors to call for time following a McKenzie Hayes attacking error that saw East Carolina grab a 10-5 edge. The lead grew to 11-5 before Memphis put together a 6-0 run to knot the score at 11.
A back and forth battle ensued from that point but the Tigers could not quite catch up. Memphis used its last timeout of the frame when a Gonzalez service ace made the score 19-16. East Carolina would have none of it, however, as it kept the pressure on and captured three of the next four rallies to pull ahead 22-17. An attacking error by Summer Morgan would later give the Pirates the set and the teams headed into intermission tied at a set apiece.
ECU scored the first two points of the third stanza but the Tigers fought back and eventually tied it at nine. A trio of consecutive attacking errors by the Pirates resulted in a timeout with Memphis leading by three but a big stuff block by McRae and Sierra Lee-Dunson kept East Carolina close trailing just 14-13. The Tigers would be just a bit too much though in the end as they squeaked out the five-point set win to snatch a 2-1 match advantage.
If Memphis had any momentum heading into the fourth frame, it all but dissipated and quickly as the fourth set commenced. A kill by Bidgood put ECU ahead early at 6-3 before the wheels came off for the Tigers. Some tough serving runs from the Pirates put Memphis out of system on nearly every rally and East Carolina blitzed the Tigers all the way to a 21-9 cushion. A block by McRae and Mares put an end to Memphis' woes as the Pirates won the set by a 12-point margin.
In the deciding stanza, the squads battled through eight ties and three lead changes. With the score tied at seven, consecutive ECU attacking errors helped the Tigers creep ahead. The Pirates had a response, however, scoring three straight to take a 10-9 advantage. An attacking error by Memphis proved costly a few rallies later as East Carolina seized a 13-11 lead but the Tigers regrouped and managed to steal away the final four points of the match to escape Minges with the win.
ECU returns to the Williams Arena floor Sunday at 1 p.m. in a matchup against Cincinnati.
