Gameday: East Carolina Travels To Houston And Tulane

Matches 20-21: at Houston and Tulane
The Matches	Oct. 18 at Houston \\\ 8:00 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch Oct. 20 at Tulane \\\ 1:00 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch
Venues	Fertitta Center (Houston, Texas) \| Devlin Fieldhouse (New Orleans, La.)
Information	2019 Fact Book \\\ 2019 Prospectus
Social Media	@ECUVB (Twitter) \\\ Instagram \\\ Facebook \\\ #GoPirates

GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina wraps up the first half of its conference schedule this weekend with a pair of matches on the road at Houston and Tulane. The Pirates are in the midst of a stretch where they are playing six of their first eight AAC contests away from home.

ECU most recently split two league matches at Temple and Connecticut, falling to the Owls in four sets last Friday in Philadelphia before sweeping the Huskies Sunday in Storrs. The three-set win over Connecticut was the first sweep by either team in the series.

Junior outside hitter Sydney Kleinman paces the offense with 225 kills (3.57 per set) while classmate and right side Bri Wood checks in with 222 kills (3.13 per set), an average of 2.73 digs per set and a .295 attacking percentage. Defensively, redshirt junior libero Brandee Markwith is putting up 4.56 digs per set (324 total) and senior middle blocker Toya Osuegbu owns a team-best total of 59 blocks (0.86 per set). Collectively, the Pirates are averaging 13.27 kills, 12.06 assists, 1.34 aces, 15.45 digs and 1.83 blocks per set with a .248 hitting percentage.

Kleinman and Markwith are both sixth in the conference in their respective categories (kills per set and digs per set) while junior setter Shelby Martin ranks fourth in double-doubles (10) and eighth in assists per set (6.69).

The Book On Houston
Selected 10th in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll, Houston has surged to a 6-0 record in league play and is 12-9 overall. the Cougars have won four AAC matches in five sets and the other two in four. Abbie Jackson leads the offensive charge with 270 kills (3.51 per set) while Megan Duncan is another top option averaging 2.84 kills per set (227 total). Katie Karbo anchors the back row as one of the top statistical liberos in the conference as she is putting up 5.35 digs per set (471 total). Rachel Tullos is into triple digits in the blocking column with 102 (1.26 per set). As a team, Houston is averaging 11.33 kills, 10.75 assists, 1.20 aces, 14.99 digs and 2.11 blocks per set and owns a .167 hitting percentage.

A Look At Tulane
Tulane is in a three-way tie for second place in the AAC West Division with a 4-2 record as well as a 14-5 overall mark. The Green Wave fell to Tulsa in four sets last weekend before picking up a 3-2 victory at Wichita State. Lexie Douglas leads four Tulane players averaging at least 2.00 kills per set with a 2.66 mark (202 total). Kayla Dinkins has produced on both sides of the net, putting up 2.22 kills per set as well as 108 total blocks (1.50 per set). In the back row, Kaylie McHugh is averaging 4.63 digs per set (347 total) and is second on the squad in service aces (22). Collectively, the Green Wave checks in at 12.88 kills, 11.95 assists, 1.39 aces, 15.95 digs and 2.56 blocks per set to go along with a .212 attacking percentage.

The Houston Series
Houston leads the all-time series with East Carolina by a 16-8 count. However, the Pirates are 7-2 against the Cougars since joining the American Athletic Conference in 2014 and have won five-straight meetings.

The Tulane Series
Tulane holds a 20-5 advantage in matches against East Carolina, sweeping the season series in 2018 with a pair of 3-1 victories.

Up Next
East Carolina returns home for a four-match homestand beginning Oct. 25 against SMU.

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Players Mentioned

Sydney Kleinman

Brandee Markwith

Shelby Martin

Toya Osuegbu

Bri Wood

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