Pirates Rally Past Camels To Win Campbell Invitational Title

Saturday, September 10

Buies Creek, N.C.

5:30 p.m.

East Carolina University

8-0

Campbell

4-6

East Carolina

Campbell

Pirates Rally Past Camels To Win Campbell Invitational Title

September 10, 2016 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – In its first five-set match of the season, the East Carolina volleyball team emerged victorious over the host Camels by scores of 21-25, 25-18. 16-26, 25-22 and 16-14 to win the Campbell Invitational title Saturday evening inside Gore Arena. The tournament title is the second of the campaign for the Pirates. They also extended the best start to a season in program history to eight-straight victories.

Team Records: East Carolina: 8-0 | Campbell: 4-6

Torbett's Take: "Our team has been road warriors all season. We are playing as a unit and supporting each other no matter our roles on the court. This was a great road win in a hostile environment. With a couple of matches before conference play, we will continue to build toward those important matches."

Senior outside hitter Sydney Darden led three ECU players in double figures offensively with a match-high 19 kills to go along with nine digs. Junior middle Natalie Montini tied her career high with 15 kills while senior outside I'Tiana Taylor checked in with 11 of her own. Senior setter Sabrina Gonzalez, who was named MVP of the tournament, notched a double-double of 50 assists and a personal-best 24 digs. Senior middle Ashley McRae finished the weekend with a strong performance at the net, ending up with eight blocks (two solo). In the back row, freshman libero Brandee Markwith tallied a career-high 32 digs. Jessica Stocking led the Camels with 17 kills.

East Carolina out-hit Campbell .201-.150 as the teams combined for 52 attacking errors. The Pirates eclipsed the 100-dig plateau with a season-high 109 while also putting up a campaign-best 14 total blocks.

Set One: With the Camels holding a 6-5 lead to open the match, they scored eight of the next 10 points and established a 14-7 advantage after a Darden attacking error. ECU called for timeout to regroup and began to rally. The Pirates pulled the score back to 22-18 following a Darden kill but Campbell would hold off the late charge and win the stanza by four.

Set Two: East Carolina got off to a slow start in the second frame, dropping the first three points. However, a McRae kill later in the proceedings gave ECU an 11-8 lead and forced the Camels into a timeout. A kill by Darden had the Pirates in front 16-9 and on the verge of tying the match. Campbell drew within 19-15 on a kill by Stocking but a service error ended the run and helped ECU reach 20 points. The Purple and Gold would net five of the final eight to seal the set.

Set Three: The Pirates fell behind 9-4 in the third and were not able to fully recover. A Camel attacking error pulled East Carolina within 18-14 later in the frame, but ECU was able to muster just two more points the rest of the way.

Set Four: With the score tied at nine in the fourth, a Stocking ace capped a 4-1 spurt that put the home team ahead by three. Campbell tried to put the Pirates away for good as ECU trailed 16-13 after a Jenny Tait kill, but East Carolina dug down once more and scored six of the next seven points to take a 19-17 advantage. A kill by junior outside hitter Ashton Mares had the Pirates in the catbird's seat up 23-20 and Taylor finished the job with a kill to send the match to the deciding set.

Set Five: The Camels gained the upper hand, building a 6-2 cushion, but East Carolina was unfazed as a Mares kill sparked a 6-0 that put the Purple and Gold in front 8-6. Consecutive kills off the swings of Montini had the Pirates as first team to 10 and leading by three before Campbell notched two straight to pull within a point. A pair of huge blocks sent the Camels scrambling for a timeout with East Carolina in front 13-11. The teams traded the next two rallies to put ECU at match point, but two Stocking kills deadlocked the score at 14. A big kill off the block by Darden pushed the Pirates to the brink once more and ECU sealed it with a textbook block by Montini and Mares.

Bits and Pieces: The Pirates improved to 4-0 in true road matches while Campbell fell to 1-2 at home … East Carolina is the lone remaining undefeated team in the American Athletic Conference in 2016 … ECU still has yet to allow an opponent to reach the .200 mark in hitting percentage in eight matches this campaign … East Carolina snapped a three-match losing streak in the series and now leads it 34-9… With eight blocks in the match, McRae requires just seven to take over possession of 10th on the program career chart … Head Coach Julie Torbett needs just 14 more wins to reach 400 for her career … Darden and Markwith were also tabbed to the Campbell Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Up Next: ECU closes its non-conference schedule with a pair of matches at the Georgia State Invitational next weekend. The Pirates will take on South Carolina State and Georgia State Saturday, Sept. 17 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. respectively.

Campbell Invitational All-Tournament Team
Sabrina Gonzalez, East Carolina *(MVP)*
Sydney Darden, East Carolina
Brandee Markwith, East Carolina
Katie Patrick, Navy
Patricia Mattingly, Navy
Jenny Tait, Campbell
Brianna Dafney, South Carolina State