ECU Drops Weekend Finale At North Carolina

Saturday, September 4

Chapel Hill, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

0-3,0-0AAC

North Carolina

6-0,0-0ACC

East Carolina

North Carolina

Photo by: Leah Smith

September 04, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – East Carolina closed out its first weekend of competition Saturday night with a 3-0 loss to North Carolina inside Carmichael Arena.

The Pirates fall to 0-3 overall while the Tar Heels improve to 6-0. East Carolina once again played with only eight available members of the roster, missing all three of its regular setters as well as top returning hitters Bri Wood and Sydney Kleinman.

Senior outside hitter Natalie Tyson led the way offensively for ECU, putting down eight kills, while freshman middle blocker Amelia Davis recorded six kills and hit a sparkling .444 with four blocks (two solo). Nia Robinson paced North Carolina with nine kills to complement a 16-dig performance out of Karenna Wurl. Freshman libero Tia Shum turned in the best effort of her very young career, collecting 13 digs.

The Tar Heels held a slight advantage in hitting percentage (.128 to.126) as well as digs (54-40) and aces (9-0). North Carolina also out-blocked the Pirates 10.0 to 6.0.

As the match commenced, the Tar Heels sprinted out to an 11-3 lead before growing it to 18-7. ECU put together a run later in the set, pulling within six at 21-15 following a kill by sophomore outside hitter Priscilla Jones, but North Carolina did enough to hold off the Pirates on the way to a 25-19 margin of victory.

East Carolina turned the tables in the second, establishing a 7-3 edge and forcing a quick Tar Heel timeout. A big stuff block by Davis and Tyson kept the Pirates ahead 12-9 before North Carolina rallied for a 17-15 advantage. ECU used a quick 4-0 run to creep ahead 21-20. However, the Tar Heels scored the final five points of the frame.

The Pirates fell behind 11-4 in the third set and were ultimately unable to recover. An attacking error gave North Carolina the set by 10 and the sweep.

Up Next: East Carolina returns to action Sept. 9 when it takes on Coastal Carolina in the first match of the Chanticleer Classic in Conway, S.C.