East Carolina Dismisses UNCW In Three

Friday, September 10

Conway, S.C.

1:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

2-4,0-0AAC

UNCW

1-5,0-0CAA

UNCW

East Carolina

Photo by: Rob Goldberg

September 10, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

CONWAY, S.C. – ECU recorded its second sweep of the day and season Friday afternoon, taking care of regional rival UNCW 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-15) in the Pirates' final match of the Chanticleer Classic inside the HTC Center.

East Carolina improved its hitting percentage in each set, producing a sizzling .423 mark in the final frame to end up at .232 for the match. The Pirates held the Seahawks to .149, exiting the match with a 35-34 edge in kills. ECU also recorded a season-high 10 aces, including a career-high six by Sydney Kleinman.

Speaking of the super senior, Kleinman notched 12 kills and a .226 hitting percentage to go along with her prowess at the service line. Freshman Amelia Davis was solid at the net, putting down six kills on eight attempts with no errors for a .750 hitting percentage. Brianna Haggerty and Katie Lanz managed eight kills apiece to lead UNCW in the setback.

Notably, All-American Athletic Conference Preseason Team selection Bri Wood made her season debut – playing three rotations across the front. She picked up right where she left off in the spring, collecting six kills on nine attempts with a lone error to hit a stout .556.

The sides traded runs to begin the match, but East Carolina started to pull ahead midway through the opening stanza. A big kill by Davis in the middle made it 16-10 in favor of the Purple and Gold before UNCW responded. The Seahawks were able to knot the score at 20 later in the proceedings. However, kills by Kleinman and Natalie Tyson pushed the Pirates in front, 22-20. With things tied at 23, a Seahawk service error and Kleinman kill gave East Carolina the opening-set victory.

A nice serving run by Tyson saw East Carolina grab a quick 4-0 advantage in the second. UNCW knotted the score at seven following a kill by Claire Sawyer, but the Pirates kept steady and stayed in the fight. A solo block by Kleinman afforded ECU a 16-13 cushion – a lead East Carolina would not relinquish. The Pirates' upper hand ballooned to as much as 22-16 before Kleinman terminated the frame with a kill.

Another fast start benefitted ECU as the Pirates seized a quick 4-0 lead. The Seahawks answered and tied the score at eight, but it was all East Carolina from that point. A kill by Wood put the Pirates ahead by six at 16-10 before ECU shut it down by claiming nine of the final 14 rallies.

Up Next: East Carolina hosts Gardner-Webb, UTRGV and Appalachian State next weekend for the Pirate Invitational. The tournament constitutes ECU's first home matches of the campaign.