ECU Stuffs Connecticut 3-1 In Storrs

Friday, October 5

Storrs, Conn.

7:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

11-4, 3-1AAC

Connecticut

10-7, 2-2AAC

ECU

UConn

Photo by: Rob Goldberg

October 05, 2018 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

STORRS, Conn. – ECU tallied a season-high 14 total blocks in a 3-1 (24-26, 25-20, 25-23, 25-17) American Athletic Conference victory over Connecticut Friday night inside Gampel Pavilion that extended the Pirates' winning streak to four matches.

"It's always great to win on the road," head coach Julie Torbett said. "I thought S'mara [Riley] did a great job. It was nice to see the team bounce back after letting the first set get away. Shelby [Martin] especially didn't let her head get down after a rough start so I am proud of her for that."

Freshman middle blocker S'mara Riley came up huge as her consistent play resulted in her first career double-double. The rookie notched 11 kills and a personal-best 10 blocks while also turning in a solid .250 hitting percentage. The Pirates' other middle, junior Toya Osuegbu, was on fire as she put up 12 kills on 18 attempts with only two errors to hit a blistering .556 as well as piling up four blocks.

Defensively, sophomore outside hitter Bri Wood paced ECU with 13 digs and was one of five Pirates in double figures. Sophomore setter Shelby Martin ended up with her fourth double-double of the season to the tune of 34 assists and 10 digs. Junior outside hitter Page Hiebert reached double figures for the first time this campaign with 10 digs of her own. Caylee Parker led the Huskies with 14 kills but also committed 13 attacking errors to hit just .024.

Connecticut held the upper hand in kills (57-44), but suffered from 15 service errors while ECU enjoyed a slight 60-59 advantage in digs. The Pirates hit .198 in the match and limited the Huskies to .139 efficiency.

ECU was the first team to pull away in the first set, taking an 11-7 lead on a block by Martin and Osuegbu. Connecticut put together a 11-2 run at the point to assume an 18-13 advantage, but the Pirates answered by scoring six of the next seven point to knot the frame at 19. ECU edged out in front 23-21 on a kill by Riley, but could not put the Huskies away in the end as the home team took the opener 26-24.

Connecticut jumped out to a 4-0 cushion in the second stanza, but the Pirates battled back and eventually tied the score at 10 when the Huskies committed an attacking error. ECU was able to establish some breathing room later at 16-13 when Martin and Osuegbu combined for a block. However, Connecticut made one last push and used three-straight points to tie it at 16. The Pirates responded with a 3-0 run of their own and eventually put the home team away by five to tie the match at intermission.

The Pirates fell behind again early in the third, trailing the Huskies 5-0. Connecticut had its way for most of the frame, leading by as much as 17-14. ECU dug down deep and began to rally, using a Brianna Hudson ace to draw within 21-19. The Huskies looked on the verge of taking the set, leading 23-19, but the Pirates put together six-straight points and won it 25-23 as Riley finished it off with a kill.

Riding the momentum of the comeback in the third, ECU was all over Connecticut to the tune of 6-1. The Huskies called a timeout to regroup, but the Pirates kept the pressure on. Connecticut was never able to threaten as ECU rolled to the eight-point victory and Osuegbu finished the match in style with a solo stuff.

The Pirates are back in action Sunday at 1 p.m. when they take on Temple in Philadelphia, Pa.