ECU Sweeps N.C. Central For Third-Straight Victory

Sunday, September 2

Durham, N.C.

3:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

5-2

N.C. Central

1-6

East Carolina

N.C. Central

September 02, 2018 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. – ECU extended its winning streak to three Sunday afternoon, downing N.C. Central 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-22) inside McDougald-McClendon Arena. The Pirates improve to 5-2 heading into their first home match Thursday while the Eagles drop to 1-6.

"It was nice to end this road trip on another win and do it in three," head coach Julie Torbett said. "Our young team continues working to get better and we look forward to playing at home this coming week."

Sophomore outside hitter Bri Wood paced the offense with nine kills while adding five digs and three blocks and freshman S'mara Riley continued her strong early-season play with eight kills, five blocks and a .438 hitting percentage. On the defensive end, junior defensive specialist Maggie Hallow collected a match-high 15 digs. Morgan Goodwin led NCCU with eight kills and Erika Ianovale tallied 11 digs.

ECU recorded 43 kills to Central's 32 and out-hit the Eagles .217 to .144. N.C. Central held a 9.0-7.5 advantage in total blocks while the Pirates out-dug the Eagles 45-39.

ECU scored five of the first seven points in the opener before NCCU responded with a 4-0 run to grab a one-point lead. With the set knotted at nine, a quick 3-0 spurt by the Pirates forced the Eagles to call for time. ECU later pushed ahead 19-13 following a Central ball-handling error and the Eagles did not threaten again.

The teams went point for point for much of the first part of the second stanza but, with the score deadlocked at 14, consecutive Central attacking errors and a kill by sophomore outside hitter Sydney Kleinman sent the Eagles scrambling for a timeout with ECU in the lead by three. The Pirates extended that edge to 21-14 before ending the set with a kill by senior setter Madison Clark.

A tandem stuff by Riley and Clark put ECU in good position with an 8-5 cushion to begin the third, but N.C. Central worked its way back into the frame and later took an 18-16 lead after a solo block by Whitney White. The Pirates answered with a 4-2 run capped by a Kleinman kill to pull even at 20 and eventually took control. With ECU leading 23-22, consecutive kills by Riley and Clark sealed the sweep.

The Purple and Gold opens its home slate Sept. 6-7 with the Pirate Invitational. ECU welcomes Eastern Washington, Gardner-Webb and Charlotte to Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum where the teams will play six total matches over the two-day span.