East Carolina Grinds Out 3-2 Win Over UConn In Dig Pink Match

Sunday, October 23

Greenville, N.C.

1:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

14-6, 4-6AAC

UConn

13-8, 4-6AAC

UConn

East Carolina

East Carolina Grinds Out 3-2 Win Over UConn In Dig Pink Match

October 23, 2016 | Volleyball

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GREENVILLE, N.C. – Senior middle hitter Ashley McRae exploded for a match-high 17 kills as East Carolina dispatched UConn 3-2 (26-24, 25-23, 19-25, 18-25, 16-14) in an American Athletic Conference volleyball match Sunday afternoon at Minges Coliseum.

Team Records: East Carolina: (14-6, 4-6 AAC) | UConn: (13-8, 4-6 AAC)

Torbett's Take: "I always say defense wins matches in our sport. UConn came in here as one of the best offensive teams in the nation but our blocking and defense stepped up to the challenge. We have enjoyed a lot of success in five-set matches the last couple of years and you could see that confidence come out of our team and translate onto the court in that deciding set."

The Rundown: The Pirates were able to rack up a season-high 16 total blocks in the match as compared to the Huskies' nine while ECU also out-dug UConn 77-73. Entering the contest, the Huskies ranked fourth nationally in kills per set but they were held well below their average with a total of 64 while the Purple and Gold recorded 52. UConn hit for a negative percentage in the fifth set, committing eight attacking errors. The teams combined for 77 offensive miscues as the Huskies hit .128 in the match to the Pirates' .115 mark.

In addition to McRae's output offensively, senior outside hitter I'Tiana Taylor notched 10 kills to go along with four digs and four blocks (two solo). Senior setter Sabrina Gonzalez clinched her second double-double of the weekend and fifth in her last six matches, producing 40 assists and 23 digs. She is the conference leader in double-doubles.

Defensively, junior middle hitter Natalie Montini collected eight blocks while McRae added six (one solo). Joining Gonzalez in double-digits in the dig column were freshman libero Brandee Markwith (17), senior outside hitter Sydney Darden (13) and junior defensive specialist Alex Jessett (10).

Kayla Williams paced UConn with 14 kills and 13 digs.

Set One: The Huskies got off to a blazing start to open the match, racing out to a 14-6 advantage. Following a Pirate timeout, East Carolina pulled within 17-12 thanks to a UConn attacking error, but the Huskies scored the next three points to push ahead 20-13. After utilizing its final timeout of the set, ECU sprang to life and began to chip away at the deficit. UConn saw its lead shrink to 21-18 thanks to a 5-1 Pirate run before a solo stuff by Taylor sliced it all the way down to 23-22. The Huskies scrambled for a timeout at that point, but a McRae kill made things even at 23. A Pirate service error put UConn at set point, but McRae came through again to tie the score at 24. A big block by Montini and junior outside hitter Lael Ceriani afforded East Carolina its first set point and Montini followed with a kill to make it stand and give ECU the comeback victory.

Set Two: Riding the momentum of their rally in the previous stanza, the Pirates jumped out to a 9-5 lead by taking advantage of a handful of Husky attacking errors. UConn burned its first timeout of the frame at that point but would be forced to use its second and final just a few rallies later when another attacking error propelled ECU to a 14-9 advantage. East Carolina built its cushion all the way to 20-15 before the Huskies scored four straight to draw within one. UConn would eventually tie the score at 23, but a Ceriani kill and Taylor solo block slammed the door shut to send the Pirates into the intermission up two sets to none.

Set Three: The Huskies were dismissed to the bench early in set three as they called for timeout trailing the Purple and Gold 5-1. A McRae kill saw East Carolina ahead 13-10 later in the stanza, but UConn responded to knot the score at 15 on a Kenya Cason service ace. The Huskies would edge ahead 19-17 following a kill by Tosin Adeniyi. However, a Ceriani kill kept the Pirates within one. UConn did not budge, scoring six of the final seven points to win the set by six and stay alive in the match.

Set Four: ECU fell behind 8-2 in the fourth and promptly used its first timeout. East Carolina found its footing late in the set, making things interesting by cutting the Husky lead to 22-18, but UConn notched the final three points to send the match to the 15-point tiebreaker.

Set Five: The Pirates unleashed a bevy of blocks, three in the first eight points, to build a 6-2 lead and force a Husky timeout. The advantage grew to 9-4 on a Montini kill, but a 5-1 UConn run whittled the cushion down to one at 10-9. A McRae kill put East Carolina on the verge leading 13-11. However, two attacking errors deadlocked the score at 13. A kill by Taylor put ECU at match point before a Pirate attacking miscue saved the Huskies for the moment. It would be a fleeting glimmer of hope for UConn though as Cason sent a serve into the net on the next rally and East Carolina's 16th block of the contest sealed it for the Purple and Gold.

Bits and Pieces: ECU's annual "Dig Pink" match was played before a lively crowd of 452 ... The Pirates improved to 2-4 at home while the Huskies dropped to 6-3 in true road contests ... East Carolina took a 3-2 lead in the series with UConn ... Having been picked last in the AAC preseason coaches poll, the Pirates actually sit seventh of 11 teams at the halfway mark of conference play ... ECU requires just two more victories in its final 10 matches to clinch its first winning season since 2006 ... Head Coach Julie Torbett is now eight wins away from 400 for her career.

Up Next: East Carolina kicks off the second half of its American Athletic Conference schedule with a road match at USF Thursday, Oct. 27. First serve at The Corrall is scheduled for 7 p.m.