Gameday: East Carolina Entertains League Foes USF And UCF

Matches 16-17: USF And UCF
The Matches	Oct. 4 vs. USF \\\ 7:00 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch (Free) Oct. 6 vs. UCF \\\ Noon \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch (Free)
Venue	Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum (Greenville, N.C.)
Information	2019 Fact Book \\\ 2019 Prospectus
Social Media	@ECUVB (Twitter) \\\ Instagram \\\ Facebook \\\ #GoPirates

Weekly Release No. 7

GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina looks to break into the win column in league play this weekend, hosting USF and UCF Friday and Sunday at Minges Coliseum.

The Pirates (12-3, 0-2 AAC) began their American Athletic Conference schedule with road losses to (RV) Cincinnati and Tulsa. The Bearcats got the best of ECU in three sets at Fifth-Third Arena before the Golden Hurricane knocked off the Pirates 3-1 at the Reynolds Center.

Junior right side Bri Wood owns a team-best 179 total kills and is hitting .305 while junior outside hitter Sydney Kleinman is averaging a squad-best 3.40 kills per set with a .262 attacking percentage. On the defensive end, redshirt junior libero Brandee Markwith paces East Carolina in total digs (272) and digs per set (4.69). Senior middle blocker Toya Osuegbu is tops on the club in total blocks (51) and blocks per set (0.91).

Collectively, the Pirates average 13.28 kills, 12.07 assists, 1.40 aces, 15.64 digs and 1.97 blocks per set with a .254 attacking percentage. ECU is 5-0 at home this season with wins over George Washington, Norfolk State, USC Upstate, N.C. Central and Campbell.

Scouting USF
USF brings a 7-9 overall record and 1-1 American Athletic Conference mark to Greenville for Friday's match. The Bulls opened league play last weekend with a 3-0 victory over Temple and a three-set loss to Connecticut. Lindsay Pliapol has been the top statistical performer for USF on offense, racking up a team-high 190 kills (3.22 per set), while Jac'cara Walker is close behind with 175 kills (2.97 per set). CC Clausen paces the back row efforts with 254 digs (4.31 per set) and Ally Barnhart is averaging 1.09 blocks per set (61 total). Collectively, the Bulls are putting up 12.00 kills, 11.29 assists, 1.22 aces, 14.24 digs and 1.89 blocks per set and are hitting at a .257 clip. Courtney Draper is in her eighth season as the head volleyball coach at USF.

A Look At UCF
Entering the weekend, UCF is 9-5 overall with a 2-0 record in conference play. The Knights opened their league schedule with a pair of 3-0 home wins over Connecticut and Temple. McKenna Melville leads the way on offense for UCF, averaging 4.22 kills per set (228 total), while Makenzie Kuchmaner, the sister of current ECU pitcher Jake Kuchmaner, anchors the back row with 192 digs (3.56 total). Nerissa Moravec has compiled 70 total blocks (1.40 per set) - a mark that is second in the conference and 21st nationally. As a team, the Knights average 13.72 kills, 12.91 assists, 1.11 aces, 15.43 digs and 2.98 blocks per set with a .255 attacking percentage. Todd Dagenais is in his 11th season as head coach of the UCF volleyball program.

The USF Series
East Carolina is 4-10 against USF, but the teams have split the last four meetings. The Bulls swept the season series last season with a five-set victory in Tampa and a 3-1 decision in Greenville after the Pirates captured a pair of four-set wins in 2017.

The UCF Series
UCF leads the series with East Carolina 17-10 after winning both encounters in 2018. The Pirates are 6-6 against the Knights in Greenville.

Up Next
East Carolina begins a four-match American Athletic Conference road trip Oct. 11 with a contest at Temple.

Gameday: East Carolina Entertains League Foes USF And UCF

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Players Mentioned

Sydney Kleinman

Brandee Markwith

Toya Osuegbu

Bri Wood

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