East Carolina Registers First-Ever Win Over Wichita State In Entertaining Five Setter

Sunday, October 20

Greenville, N.C.

Noon

East Carolina University

12-6,5-3American

Wichita State

10-10,5-3American

Wichita St.

East Carolina

East Carolina Registers First-Ever Win Over Wichita State In Entertaining Five Setter

October 20, 2024 | Volleyball

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GREENVILLE, N.C. – Wichita State entered the American Athletic Conference in 2017 as a national powerhouse with a roster chock full of All-Americans. Now, the Shockers aren't quite the machine they used to be, but East Carolina was still unable to solve them until Sunday afternoon when the Pirates broke through for a 3-2 (22-25, 25-18, 25-21, 18-25, 15-10) victory inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

ECU (12-6, 5-3 AAC) logged its first win over Wichita State (10-10, 5-3 AAC) in 11 attempts while securing a massive result in the race for one of the eight available spots in the reincarnated AAC Volleyball Championship scheduled for late November at the Shockers' Koch Arena.

Minges has been a veritable fortress this campaign and Sunday was no different. Buoyed by an enthusiastic crowd donned in pink for the Pirates' annual breast cancer awareness contest, East Carolina improved to 7-0 inside the facility.

Two of the best offensive clubs in the league put on a show as seven total players between the sides finished with double figures in the kill column, including four ECU hitters. Ellie Pate paced the Pirate unit with 16 while Fran McBride (15), Angeles Alderete (13) and Aulie Huff (11) followed suit. Brooklyn Leggett logged a match-best 21 for the visitors.

East Carolina welcomed the return of junior middle blocker and conference hitting percentage leader Carlia Northcross who missed the first seven matches of the conference slate due to injury. She stepped right back into the starting lineup and notched seven kills on 11 attempts with one error to fire at a sizzling .545 clip while adding a match-high five blocks.

Head Coach Adler Augustin's side knew a consistent and efficient offensive effort would be requisite and the Purple and Gold delivered, hitting a stout .311 with 65 kills. The Pirates were also mint at the net, out blocking the Shockers 10.0 to 3.0 and producing some valuable touches that kept the ball alive on numerous rallies.

After falling behind 17-11 in the first set, ECU rallied all the way back to assume a 21-20 advantage, but Wichita State would score five of the last six points in the frame to go on the front foot.

The Pirates came out inspired in the second stanza and snagged an 11-6 lead behind a superior serve-receive performance. All told, the Shockers never threatened as East Carolina rolled to the seven-point win.

It was Wichita State who raced out in the third set, building a 13-10 cushion via a Gracie Morrow kill. Unfazed, the Pirates rattled off three straight to even things before a quick service run by Payton Evenstad put the home team in front by one at 19-18. ECU displayed a steely resolve down the stretch and terminated the frame by collecting six of the last nine rallies.

If East Carolina fans believed the Shockers would go quietly into the Greenville evening, that notion was quickly dispelled. Wichita State rumbled in front 16-12, prompting a Pirate timeout, before extending its upper hand to 19-14. ECU never found its rhythm, dropping the stanza by seven.

The race to 15 started on a lively note as neither club built more than a one-point edge in settling for a 9-9 stalemate. A kill by Pate and an attacking miscue by Annalie Heliste afforded East Carolina some separation and, as it turned out, the decisive kick of momentum. Following a Shocker timeout, Huff and Northcross combined for a pair of stuff blocks that set the arena on fire and put the Pirates two points away from history. Kenzie Beckham made it match point at 14-9 with a serve that clipped the net and fell into a vacated space in the Wichita State reception formation, but Morgan Stout kept the Shockers alive with a kill. A lengthy rally ensured, but ECU would not be denied on this day as Huff terminated the final volleyball of the afternoon to seal the victory.

Up Next: East Carolina heads to Charlotte Wednesday (Oct. 23) evening for an American Athletic Conference appointment with the 49ers. First serve inside Halton Arena is slated for 6 p.m. and the contest will stream live via ESPN+.