Gameday: Undefeated Pirates Travel To Florida For UNF Invitational

Matches 3-5: UNF Invitational
The Matches	Sept. 6 at North Florida \\\ 10:00 a.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch (Free) Sept. 6 vs. Mercer \\\ 4:30 p.m. \\\ Live Stats Sept. 7 vs. Wake Forest \\\ 11:00 a.m. \\\ Live Stats
Venue	UNF Arena (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Information	2019 Fact Book \\\ 2019 Prospectus
Social Media	@ECUVB (Twitter) \\\ Instagram \\\ Facebook \\\ #GoPirates

Weekly Release No. 2

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Armed with a 2-0 record, the East Carolina volleyball team will spend the weekend in Florida as a participant in the UNF Invitational. The Pirates are slated to take on Mercer, Wake Forest and host North Florida during the two-day event.

ECU opened the season last Sunday with a pair of wins over George Mason and Providence, sweeping the host Patriots before turning right around and defeating the Friars in an entertaining 3-2 decision.

The ECU pin hitters were fantastic the whole day as junior Bri Wood racked up 35 kills in eight sets (4.38 per set) and hit .444 on her way to American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll recognition while junior Sydney Kleinman tallied 30 kills (3.75 per set) and eight service aces. Both players notched a double-double against Providence with 19 kills apiece and Kleinman collected a career-high 23 digs.

Junior setter Shelby Martin posted a double-double in each match, turning in 28 assists and 13 digs versus the Patriots as well as 28 assists and 10 digs against the Friars.

As a team, the Pirates hit .292 in the two victories as well as putting up 14.50 kills, 12.88 assists, 1.75 aces, 15.75 digs and 17.50 points per set. East Carolina was perfect in the fifth set in the Providence match, putting down 12 kills on 20 attempts with no errors while also notching two blocks and an ace.

Scouting North Florida
North Florida opened its season with a 3-0 victory over Charleston Southern last Friday before falling to host UNCW in four sets and Duquesne in three to wrap up the UNCW Invitational Saturday. Freshman libero Rocio Moro earned Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Week honors after racking up 58 digs in 10 sets and committing just one reception error in 50 attempts. Gabby O'Connell led the way offensively with an average of 3.00 kills per set while Emma Dixon collected nine blocks. As a team, the Ospreys are averaging 11.90 kills, 10.70 assists, 1.70 aces, 13.90 digs and 1.30 blocks per set while hitting at a .167 clip. Kristen Wright is in her second year as the head volleyball coach for the UNF indoor volleyball program after joining the Ospreys in December of 2017 following a stint as the head coach at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, Calif.

A Look At Mercer
Mercer began its 2019 campaign last weekend at home with the Mercer Bears Classic, falling to Nicholls State 3-1 before bouncing back for a 3-0 win over Georgia Southern and a 3-1 triumph over Campbell. In it's first road contest at Florida A&M Tuesday evening, Mercer swept the Rattlers in Tallahassee. Annie Karle has recorded a team-best 45 kills (3.21 per set) while Emilee Wissmach leads the squad defensively with a 3.21 digs per set mark. Collectively, the Bears are averaging 10.82 kills, 9.24 assists, 2.12 aces, 8.06 digs and 1.59 blocks per set. Derek Schroeder was named Mercer's head indoor and beach volleyball coach July 25, 2017 and is in his third season leading the program.

About Wake Forest
Wake Forest sailed through its opening weekend with little resistance, posting 3-0 victories over N.C. Central, Presbyterian and UNC Greensboro as part of the Spartan-Demon Deacon Classic. Caitlyn Della and Peyton Suess are averaging over three kills per set with respective 3.89 and 3.78 marks. Della is also putting up a team-high 1.56 blocks per set while Suess and Caitlin Clarke have each collected 29 digs (3.22 per set). As a team, Wake Forest is averaging 13.44 kills, 12.00 assists, 2.22 aces, 15.33 digs and 2.44 blocks per set. Randi Smart, who joined the Demon Deacons as an assistant in 2017 after eight seasons as head coach at Cal State Los Angeles, is serving as Wake Forest's interim head coach.

The North Florida Series
East Carolina and North Florida have met just once on the volleyball court. The Ospreys defeated the Pirates in three sets back on Sept. 8, 2006 in Charlotte, N.C.

The Mercer Series
ECU holds a 2-1 series lead over Mercer, but the squads have not played since 2004 when the Pirates knocked off the Bears in four sets as part of the City Hotel and Bistro Invitational in Minges Coliseum.

The Wake Forest Series
Wake Forest has taken 15 of the 20 encounters with East Carolina, picking up a three-set win over the Pirates Aug. 30, 2013 in Winston-Salem.

Up Next
East Carolina makes the short trip over to Raleigh Tuesday (Sept. 10) for its first meeting with NC State since the 2011 season.

Gameday: Undefeated Pirates Travel To Florida For UNF Invitational

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Players Mentioned

Sydney Kleinman

Shelby Martin

Bri Wood

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