East Carolina University
5-1
Hampton University
0-7
ECU Volleyball Sweeps Hampton in Home Opener
September 11, 2015 | Volleyball
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The East Carolina volleyball team used a balanced offense that hit .309 in the contest to sweep Hampton for the second time in as many weeks. The Pirates of ECU defeated the Lady Pirates of Hampton by set scores of 25-17, 25-14, 25-16 in ECU's home opener.
With the victory, ECU improves to 5-1 on the year, while Hampton drops to 0-7 and continues to look for its first win of the season.
"We were just trying to do what we did last time [we faced Hampton]," Head coach Julie Torbett said. "I feel like we are a better ball control team than they are. They have some nice athletes out there and they have some height. They ran a different lineup against us last time, so it gave us a new look. They ran a 6-2 offense, so I thought we adjusted to that pretty well. We minimized our errors and only had 13 to their 24."
The victory was a team effort as sophomore outside hitter Ashton Mares led the way with 10 kills, while senior Kierra Lee-Dunson contributed nine. Natalie Montini and Haley Bidgood each added six kills while hitting .421 and .538, respectively. Sabrina Gonzalez paced the Pirates with 36 assists and Alex Jessett turned in another solid effort with four service aces. Erika Figueroa notched 11 kills on defense and did her job helping limit Hampton to a .051 hitting percentage. At the net, the Pirates got strong performances from Gonzalez, Lee-Dunson and Ashley McRae who each posted four block assists.
"Ashton had 10 kills and I really felt like Ashley McRae did a good job," Torbett said of her top performers. "Natalie had zero errors to hit .421 and Haley hit .538 so that was a new twist in our lineup. Haley, who is just a freshman, was on the right side. It's great to have back-up setter who can hit."
The Pirates of ECU jumped ahead early in the first set with a quick 6-1 advantage and never looked back. East Carolina held the lead throughout the first set as the Pirates hit .302 in the frame and held the Lady Pirates to a .150 attack percentage. East Carolina knocked down 16 kills in the game with just three errors and although Hampton's offense tallied 13 kills, they were forced into seven attack errors. ECU went on to take the first set by a score of 25-17 after Gonzalez ended the frame with a kill.
ECU carried its offensive prowess into the second set, tallying 14 kills en route to hitting .233. The Pirates took a 6-2 lead and, once again, did not relinquish it. Hampton fought back and cut East Carolina's lead to two (15-13), but the Pirates did not falter as they extended their lead to seven (21-14) before closing out the frame 25-14.
East Carolina hit .417 in the third and final set and the Pirates' defense limited Hampton to a mere .062 attack percentage. The set started off close as the two teams battled through 12 early ties and five lead changes. However, ECU broke a 12-12 tie on a kill from Mares and surged forward to take a nine-point advantage (24-15) before winning the set, 25-16, and earning the sweep.
The Pirates of ECU will be back in action Saturday, Sept. 12 for the second and final day of the East Carolina Invitational. ECU plays Western Carolina at 12:30 p.m. before closing out the tournament against William & Mary at 7 p.m. Live stats and video will be available on ECUPirates.com.
