Errors Hinder Volleyball In Four-Set Loss To Rutgers

Saturday, August 26

Greenville, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

2-1

Rutgers

2-1

Rutgers

ECU

August 26, 2017 | Volleyball

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GREENVILLE, N.C. – After winning the first set against Big Ten foe Rutgers Saturday night, the ECU volleyball could not hang on down the stretch as the Scarlet Knights recorded a 3-1 (19-25, 27-25, 25-17, 25-22) non-conference victory in the finale of the ECU Invitational from Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

Both teams finished the tournament with a 2-1 record, but Rutgers claimed the championship based off of the head-to-head result. Senior outside hitter Lael Ceriani and sophomore middle Toya Osuegbu were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Ceriani notched a team-high 17 kills to go along with eight digs and a .351 hitting percentage while senior outside hitter Ashton Mares chipped in with 12 kills and 16 digs – her first double-double of the campaign. Osuegbu ended up with seven kills and a career-high seven blocks (three solo). Defensively, sophomore libero Brandee Markwith collected a match-high 17 digs. Kamila Cieslik, the tournament MVP, paced the Scarlet Knights with 17 kills and 11 digs.

The Pirates recorded 57 kills, 58 digs and 10 total blocks, but 30 attacking errors hurt their cause as they finished with a .189 hitting percentage. Rutgers hit .254 for the match with 52 kills to go along with 49 digs.

Team Records: ECU (2-1) | Rutgers (2-1)

Torbett's Take: "We will need to bounce back from this loss quickly. We let Rutgers dictate the match and got away from what made us successful earlier in the weekend. Our freshman did have some really bright spots in all three matches so I am proud of them for that. I also thought Lael came to play all weekend long."

Set 1: The Pirates broke an 8-8 tie with a 7-3 run that put them in front 15-11. After a Scarlet Knight timeout, ECU kept its distance and went on to clinch the frame by six points.

Set 2: Rutgers jumped out to a quick 8-4 lead, but four-straight scores by the Pirates knotted the proceedings. The teams traded blows all the way to a 19-19 deadlock. The Scarlet Knights enjoyed two set points leading 24-22. However, consecutive kills by freshman right side Bri Wood and Mares sent the stanza to extra points. The Purple and Gold took a 25-24 edge thanks to another kill by Wood, but Rutgers was able to rally and net the final three points of the set.

Set 3: The third frame was all Scarlet Knights as they raced out to a 12-3 advantage. ECU was able to slice the deficit to 20-15, but Rutgers scored five of the last seven points.

Set 4: The Scarlet Knights found themselves in front 12-7 and 16-11 in the final stanza before the Pirates made one last push. A Ceriani kill pulled the home side to within 22-20. However, Rutgers was able to wrangle away three of the last five points to end the match.

News and Notes

ECU dropped to 0-3 in the series with Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights have won all three meetings by a 3-1 score.
Ceriani finished the weekend with an average of 4.40 kills per set and a .355 hitting percentage.
Despite the setback, the Pirates have won 13 of their last 14 non-conference matches.
Head coach Julie Torbett needs just six more victories to reach 400 for her career.

Up Next: The Pirates will head on the road for the first time in 2017 next weekend, traveling down to Florida for the Stetson Invitational.