Gameday: Volleyball Plays Host To ECU Classic This Weekend

Matches 7-10: ECU Classic
Schedule	Sept. 8: Winthrop vs. The Citadel \\\ 9 a.m. \\\ Live Stats Sept. 8: Hampton \\\ 11 a.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Live Video Sept. 8: The Citadel vs. Gardner-Webb \\\ 2 p.m. \\\ Live Stats Sept. 8: Hampton vs. Winthrop \\\ 4 p.m. \\\ Live Stats Sept. 8: Gardner-Webb \\\ 7 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Live Video Sept. 9: Hampton vs. Gardner-Webb \\\ 10 a.m. \\\ Live Stats Sept. 9: The Citadel \\\ Noon \\\ Live Stats \\\ Live Video Sept. 9: The Citadel vs. Hampton \\\ 4 p.m. \\\ Live Stats Sept. 9: Winthrop \\\ 7 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Live Video
Venue	Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum
Tournament Central	ECU Classic \\\ Tickets
Social Media	@ECUVB (Twitter) \\\ Instagram \\\ Facebook \\\ @ECUScoreboard (In-Match Updates) \\\ #ECUndaunted

Weekly Release No. 3 (PDF)

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The ECU volleyball team begins a six-match homestand this weekend, welcoming Gardner-Webb, Hampton, The Citadel and Winthrop to Greenville for the ECU Classic Sept. 8-9.

Last weekend, the Pirates traveled to Florida for the Hatter Classic and won two out of three matches - falling to still unbeaten Providence before recording victories over host Stetson and Bucknell. Senior outside hitter Lael Ceriani posted a career-high 20 kills in the 3-1 victory over Stetson while sophomore libero Brandee Markwith tied the single-match program record for digs with 37 in the same match.

Ceriani currently ranks third in the American Athletic Conference in both kills per set (4.20) and points per set (4.60) while Markwith in first in the conference in digs per set (5.40) and 25th nationally. As a unit, ECU is averaging 14.00 kills, 13.10 assists, 1.15 aces, 15.15 digs and 2.15 blocks per set to go along with a .215 hitting percentage. Pirate opponents are hitting just .184.

The Purple and Gold owns a 2-1 record at home this season after defeating William & Mary and Georgia State at the ECU Invitational during the opening weekend of the campaign.

Scouting Hampton
Hampton brings an 0-6 overall record to Greenville with losses to Buffalo, Central Arkansas, Canisius, Drake, James Madison and Cornell. Reeana Richardson is the top offensive performer statistically, averaging 2.77 kills per set, while Maja Petronijevic anchors the back row to the tune of 2.68 digs per set. Collectively, Hampton is putting up 8.42 kills, 7.74 assists, 1.05 aces, 9.79 digs and 2.16 blocks per set to go along with a .091 hitting percentage.

The Series: Hampton
ECU has won all seven meetings with Hampton. The Pirates picked up a pair of 3-0 victories during the 2015 season, defeating HU at both the Davidson Wildcat Classic and the Pirate Invitational.

About Gardner-Webb
Gardner-Webb is 2-5 overall following a three-set home loss to Elon Tuesday. Kaelyn Dyson led the Runnin' Bulldogs in the match with nine kills and is the top offensive producer for GWU at 2.56 kills per set. Defensively, Emma Milstead averages 4.33 digs per set while Keira Moore sports a 1.00 blocks per set mark. As a team, the Runnin' Bulldogs are averaging 10.93 kills, 10.44 assists, 1.15 aces, 12.15 digs and 1.96 blocks per set as well as hitting .167 over 27 sets.

The Series: Gardner-Webb
ECU holds a 3-0 record against Gardner-Webb and last defeated the Runnin' Bulldogs in three sets at the Elon Phoenix Classic in 2013. The Pirates also picked up a 3-1 victory the last time the teams met in Greenville to begin the 2011 season.

Looking At The Citadel
The Citadel has seven matches under its belt this season and has compiled a 2-5 record thus far. The Bulldogs lost three of four at the Service Academy Invitational last weekend, picking up its lone win over Columbia. With only four matches reported for statistical purposes, Sharlissa De Jesus is pacing the offense with an average of 4.00 kills per set while Caricia Rodriguez is putting up a team-high 3.81 digs per set. Collectively, The Citadel averages 11.69 kills, 10.69 assists, 1.06 aces, 15.06 digs and 1.62 blocks per set.

The Series: The Citadel
ECU and The Citadel have met twice on the volleyball court with the Pirates winning both matchups. The teams last faced off Sept. 6, 2013 when ECU picked up a three-set victory as part of the East Carolina Classic.

The Book On Winthrop
Winthrop owns a 3-4 overall record after winning two of three last weekend at the Troy Invitational. The Eagles defeated Jackson State and Northwestern State before falling to the host Trojans. Sydney Gunter leads the Winthrop offense with an average of 2.96 kills per set while Carlie Skelton paces the defense with a 3.77 digs per set mark. The Eagles are averaging 11.42 kills, 10.50 assists, 1.85 aces, 12.58 digs and 1.62 blocks per set to go along with a .210 hitting percentage.

The Series: Winthrop
ECU has won nine of its 16 matches against Winthrop, including four of the last five and nine of the last 12. The last time the teams met, the Pirates bested the Eagles 3-1 at the Duke Invitational Aug. 25, 2007.

Bits and Pieces

Head coach Julie Torbett picked up her 397th career victory in the sweep of Bucknell.
The Pirates own a trio of sweeps this season in only six matches.
With a pair of victories at the Stetson Invitational, ECU improved to 40-16 in non-conference matches since the start of the 2013 campaign.
Freshmen Kaiya Heyliger-Powell and Logan Smith made their collegiate debuts last weekend in Florida.

Up Next
ECU enjoys a 10-day break from competition, returning to the court in Greenville Sept. 19 for a non-conference doubleheader against N.C. Central and North Carolina A&T. The Pirates take on the Eagles at 4 p.m. and the Aggies at 7.

Gameday: Volleyball Plays Host To ECU Classic This Weekend

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Players Mentioned

Lael Ceriani

Kaiya Heyliger-Powell

Brandee Markwith

Logan Smith

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Gameday: Volleyball Plays Host To ECU Classic This Weekend

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lael Ceriani

Kaiya Heyliger-Powell

Brandee Markwith

Logan Smith

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