ECU Volleyball Opens 2015 Campaign at Savannah State
August 29, 2015 | Volleyball
| East Carolina at Savannah State | |
| Date | Sunday, August 30, 2015 |
| Time | 1 p.m. |
| Location | Savannah, Ga. |
| Game Notes | East Carolina  |
| @ECUScoreboard | |
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina kicks off the 2015 campaign in Savannah, Ga., at Savannah State on Sunday, August 30 at 1 p.m. The Pirates continue the season-opening weekend with a mid-week contest at N.C. Central in Durham, N.C. on Tuesday, September 1 at 7 p.m.
The Series vs. Savannah State
The Pirates and Tigers will meet for the third time in program history and East Carolina leads the all-time series 2-0. Savannah State is looking for its first-ever victory over ECU. In their last meeting, the Pirates swept the Tigers, 3-0, on October 5, 2013 in Greenville, N.C.
The Series vs. N.C. Central
East Carolina and N.C. Central go head-to-head for the sixth time in program history and the Pirates lead the all-time series 5-0. ECU and N.C. Central faced off a year ago at Williams Arena inside Minges Coliseum and East Carolina took the match in three sets. The Eagles are looking to collect their first victory over the Pirates in program history.
The 2014 Season in Review
East Carolina finished the 2014 season with a 15-16 overall record and a 6-14 ledger in American Athletic Conference action. The Pirates collected 15 wins in a single season and six conference victories for the first time since 2007. ECU started off the year on a hot streak, winning five-straight matches, three of which were sweeps. This marked the first time in six years the Pirates put together a five-match win streak. The Pirates were competitive as they faced a tough schedule which included playing at then-No. 3 Penn State, which was the reigning national champion. ECU opened the season hosting the East Carolina Invitational and the Pirates turned in several strong performances to go 3-0 in the invitational and become co-champions, along with UNC Wilmington, of the tournament. East Carolina followed the successful opening weekend with a strong showing at the Penn State Alumni Classic as the Pirates posted a 2-2 record with victories over Eastern Illinois (3-2) and DePaul (3-1). During the 2014 campaign the Pirates reached several milestones as a team and individually. As a team, East Carolina tallied 98 digs in the match against Memphis on October 26, which comes in third in the single-game record book. East Carolina finished the year with 1,379 total kills to average 11.69 per set on 1,272 assists (10.78 per set), while hitting .189. The Pirates tallied 146 service aces on the year for an average of 1.24 per set which ranked them fifth in the league. Defensively, ECU averaged 14.33 digs per set and posted 1.82 blocks per set on the year.
About the Pirates
East Carolina welcomes back 13 returning student-athletes for the 2015 season including senior captains Erika Figueroa and Kierra Lee-Dunson. Figueroa finished her junior year with a team-leading 3.74 digs per set at libero, while Lee-Dunson averaged 0.63 blocks per set at the net. The duo is joined by senior outside hitter Sydney Darden who led the Pirates offensively a year ago with 2.74 kills per set to go along with 2.68 digs per set which ranked her second on the squad. In addition to returning more than a dozen student-athletes, ECU also boasts five newcomers including four incoming freshmen and junior transfer Sabrina Gonzalez. Gonzalez is a 5-9 setter who transferred from UNC Pembroke and she will work with freshman setter Haley Bidgood to fill the role left vacant by Zarah Cecich who graduated in May. The Pirates are led by third year head coach Julie Torbett and her staff of Cindi Miller and Chris Rose.
Scouting the Tigers
Savannah State opened its season with a 3-0 [14-25, 15-25, 8-25] loss to Jacksonville State on Friday. In the contest, freshman outside hitter Makayla Tam led the Tigers with seven kills and added a pair of digs, while junior Caitlynn Masoe led the squad with 15 assists and eight digs, while adding four kills on a .500 attack percentage. Savannah State is looking to improve on a 2014 season in which it finished 5-27 overall and 0-10 in the MEAC. The Tigers are looking for their first victory since October 30, 2014 when Savannah State defeated Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Ga., by a score of 3-1 in non-conference action.
Scouting the Eagles
N.C. Central is still looking for its first victory of the 2015 season as the Eagles are coming off of a season-opening setback to N.C. State at the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia, S.C. The Eagles suffered a sweep by the Wolfpack as they fell 16-25, 14-25, 17-25. Freshman outside hitter Sydney Summer totaled 10 kills in her collegiate debut in the loss for N.C. Central. The Eagles are coming off of a 2014 season in which they finished 4-25 overall and 4-6 in the MEAC. The Eagles are in search of their first win since November 9, 2014 when they swept Savannah State in a conference match in Durham, N.C.
Eyeing the Record Books
Defensive specialist/libero Erika Figueroa begins her senior season with 773 career digs which is just 278 shy of breaking into the East Carolina career record book. A year ago, Figueroa dished out 441 digs and is well on her way to etch her name into East Carolina history.
Offensive Output
The Pirates begin the 2015 season with three outside hitters on the roster in seniors Sydney Darden and Sierra Lee-Dunson as well as sophomore Ashton Mares. Additionally, East Carolina boasts five middle hitters who can hit and block the ball in the front row in returning senior Kierra Lee-Dunson, junior Ashley McRae and sophomore Natalie Montini as well as freshmen newcomers Jessica Nwabuko and Kori West.
Setting the Tone
Following the graduation of last year's primary setter Zarah Cecich, the Pirates will turn their attention to junior transfer Sabrina Gonzalez and freshman Haley Bidgood to handle the setter duties. Bidgood graduated early from Green Hope High School in Cary, N.C., and has been practicing with the team since the spring season. Gonzalez comes to ECU from UNC Pembroke where she led the Braves with 1,360 assists as a sophomore to average 9.78 assists per set, while contributing 376 digs, 104 kills and 74 total blocks. East Carolina looks to Gonzalez to led the Pirates' offense this season.
Can You Dig It?
Defensive specialist/libero Erika Figueroa returns to East Carolina for her fourth and final season in purple and gold. She is coming off a junior season in which she lead the Pirates with 441 digs to average 3.74 per set which also ranked her ninth in the American Athletic Conference. A year ago, Figueroa tied the ECU school record with a career-best 34 digs at UConn on November 16 and helped the Pirates tally 98 digs in the match against Memphis on October 26 which ranks third in the single-game record book. With Figueroa anchoring the defense this season, the Pirates look to have a strong back row with Figueroa, senior defensive specialist Lauren Bewick, sophomore defensive specialists Alex Jessett and Megan Williams as well as freshman newcomer Kaitlyn Branam.
Block Party
Middle blockers Ashley McRae and Natalie Montini guarded the net last season for the Pirates and the duo, along with senior middle blocker Kierra Lee-Dunson, look to continue their reign. Montini, a 6-0 sophomore, finished her rookie season with a team-leading 0.96 blocks per set after posting a total of 72 blocks. McRae led the Pirates with 84 total blocks and concluded her sophomore season with 0.72 blocks per set. Lee-Dunson led the Pirates early in the season at the blocking game, but had her season cut short due to an injury. Lee-Dunson looks to be back at it this season as the trio will hold down the front row for East Carolina.
All in the Family
There are a few East Carolina family connections on the roster again this season. Senior Torre Blake is the daughter of Jeff Blake who played football at ECU and proceeded to enjoy a lengthy NFL career. She is also the cousin of Isaiah Jones, a junior receiver on the Pirate football team. Additionally, twin sisters Kierra and Sierra Lee-Dunson return to the Pirates this season. The last time East Carolina had a pair of twins on the court was in 2003 when Sarah and Jessica Vick donned purple and gold from 2001-03.
Coming Up
Following East Carolina's opening weekend of matches at Savannah State and N.C. Central, the Pirates continue their road swing as they head to Davidson, N.C. for the Davidson Tournament where ECU will take on Presbyterian, Hampton and host, Davidson, from September 4-5.
