Volleyball Splits Day One Of ECU Classic

Friday, September 8

Greenville, N.C.

11:00 a.m.

East Carolina University

5-2

Hampton

0-7

Hampton

ECU

September 08, 2017 | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Hampton Box Score (PDF)Gardner-Webb Box Score (PDF)

GREENVILLE, N.C. – After picking up a 3-0 victory over Hampton in the morning session, the ECU volleyball saw a two sets to one lead slip away in the nightcap as the Pirates fell to Gardner-Webb in five sets to end the first day of the ECU Classic Friday inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

Sophomore libero Brandee Markwith set a new program single-match record with 40 digs against the Bulldogs, eclipsing her 37 from last weekend's road win at Stetson.

Team Records: ECU (5-3) | Gardner-Webb (4-5) | Hampton (1-7)

ECU 3, Hampton 0
Senior outside hitter Lael Ceriani paced the homestanding Pirates with nine kills while Markwith collected 12 digs and senior middle hitter Natalie Montini tallied six blocks. Reeana Richardson led Hampton with 10 kills.

ECU hit .304 in the affair, committing just eight attacking errors. The Pirates also out-dug (36-32) and out-blocked (7.0-3.0) Hampton while limiting the visitors to a .067 hitting percentage.

Set One: A kill by Montini capped a match-opening 9-4 run that forced a quick timeout by Hampton. The lead grew to 16-10 before the Pirates closed out the set by scoring nine of the final 12 points.

Set Two: ECU never let Hampton into the second stanza, ringing up a 13-2 advantage on the way to a 25-12 victory and a 2-0 lead at intermission.

Set Three: Hampton pushed in front 8-4 to begin the third frame, but four-straight points by ECU tied the score. The visitors called for time when the Purple and Gold moved in front 12-10 and would eventually knot things at 14 apiece. A kill by freshman right side Bri Wood got the Pirates going once more and they would eventually pull away from Hampton and win the match-clinching set by six points.

Gardner-Webb 3, ECU 2
The slugfest between the Pirates and Runnin' Bulldogs featured 116 combined kills, 64 attacking errors, 177 digs and 28 blocks. Each team picked up 14 total blocks while Gardner-Webb won the hitting percentage battle .169 to .106. The sides were virtually even in the dig column with ECU ending up with a slight 89-88 edge.

In addition to Markwith's record-setting performance, senior outside hitter Ashton Mares notched 15 digs of her own while senior defensive specialist Alex Jessett chipped in with 11. Wood tied for match-high honors with 14 kills while Montini recorded 13 and Ceriani posted 11. Sophomore middle hitter Toya Oseugbu also exploded for eight blocks. Nicole Celarek finished with a double-double of 14 kills and 11 digs to pace the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Set One: ECU came out on fire to open the match, racking up a 7-1 lead that led to a Gardner-Webb timeout. The lead only grew from there, getting as big as 19-10 before the Pirates closed out the set 25-16.

Set Two: ECU jumped out to another quick start in the second frame, building a 6-2 advantage. The Runnin' Bulldogs started to rally, going on a 10-2 tear to propel into the lead by four points at 12-8. The Pirates answered with a run of their own, eventually pulling ahead 20-17. ECU could not sustain the momentum, however, as Gardner-Webb dug down and ended the stanza on an 8-2 run to tie the match going to intermission.

Set Three: The visitors forced the Pirates to take a timeout when a block afforded the Runnin' Bulldogs a 12-6 lead. With Gardner-Webb later ahead 20-16, a Montini kill sparked a set-ending 9-3 run that was capped by consecutive kills by Osuegbu and Wood to give ECU the frame by two.

Set Four: The Pirates had the chance to put the match away late in the fourth stanza, leading 19-16 after an ace by senior defensive specialist Megan Williams. However, the Runnin' Bulldogs stuck around and were able to forge into the lead at 24-23. A kill by Montini saved one set point for the Purple and Gold, but a kill and ECU attacking error helped Gardner-Webb escape and extend the match to the deciding set.

Set Five: The teams traded the first four points of the fifth, but the Runnin' Bulldogs used a 6-1 run to take an 8-3 advantage. The lead grew to 11-4 and that would be enough for Gardner-Webb to win the set by six and take the contest.

News and Notes

Head coach Julie Torbett picked up her 398th career victory and can reach 400 if ECU wins both of its matches Saturday.
The Pirates moved to 3-2 at home in 2017.
The victory for Gardner-Webb was its first ever in the series between the programs.
ECU improved to 8-0 all-time against Hampton.

Up Next: The Pirates close out the ECU Classic Saturday, taking on The Citadel at Noon and Winthrop at 7 p.m.

ECU Classic Day One Scores
Winthrop 3, The Citadel 1
ECU 3, Hampton 0
Gardner-Webb 3, The Citadel 1
Hampton 3, Winthrop 2
Gardner-Webb 3, ECU 2