Pirates Open AAC Slate At Cincinnati

Matches 2-3: East Carolina at Cincinnati
The Matches	Feb. 11 \\\ 1:00 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch Feb. 12 \\\ 1:00 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch
Venue	Fifth-Third Arena (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Statistics	East Carolina \\\ Cincinnati
Social Media	Twitter \\\ Instagram \\\ #OnePirateNation #ECUVB

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Following a four-set victory over North Carolina A&T in its 2021 spring opener, East Carolina begins its eight-match American Athletic Conference schedule Thursday at Cincinnati.

The Pirates and Bearcats will face off Thursday and Friday at 1 p.m. inside Fifth-Third Arena. Both matches will be streamed live via ESPN+ with Matt Noonan and Melissa Luckey on the call.

ECU is playing eight league matches this season (two on consecutive days in one location) against the other teams in the east division. In addition to Cincinnati, the Pirates will travel to UCF as well as host South Florida and Temple.

In East Carolina's win against the Aggies, Bri Wood and Sydney Kleinman posted double-doubles. Wood tallied 15 kills and 13 digs while Kleinman notched 15 kills and 14 digs as well as three aces and two blocks. Alisi Motu'apuaka also recorded a double-double to the tune of 40 assists and 14 digs. She flirted with a triple-double, putting down six kills with no errors in 11 attempts.

Scouting Cincinnati
Cincinnati is 2-2 thus far in the 2021 spring season, splitting a pair of matches with both Illinois State and Xavier. Madison Waters leads the squad in kills per set (3.53) while Payton Frederick is putting up a team-best 4.67 digs per set. Ashley Kozer has run the offense the first four outings and is averaging 11.73 assists per set. Outside hitter Maria Mallon and setter Armania Heckenmueller were both named to the preseason All-AAC Team, but have yet to play this season. The Bearcats are contending with the loss of All-America performer and Team USA member Jordan Thompson who was tabbed the AVCA North Region Player of the Year in 2019 after leading the nation in kills, points, kills per set and points per set.

The Cincinnati Series
Cincinnati leads the all-time series with East Carolina 15-3 and has won four of the last six meetings. The Pirates are 1-8 against the Bearcats in Cincinnati, picking up their lone win in five sets in 2017 when they swept the season series.

Up Next
ECU hosts South Florida Feb. 18-19 in its first two home matches of the campaign. Thursday's contest is scheduled for 6 p.m. while Friday's match will start at 2 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Sydney Kleinman

Alisi Motu'apuaka

Bri Wood

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