Pirates Handle Hampton In Three Sets

Saturday, August 30

Hampton, Va.

10:00 a.m.

East Carolina University

3-0,0-0American

Hampton

0-2,0-0CAA

East Carolina

Hampton

August 30, 2025 | Volleyball

Box Score

Hampton, Va. — Ellie Pate recorded a team-high 12 kills as East Carolina turned in another dominant performance with a sweep of Hampton to close out play at the Hampton Tournament on Saturday morning.

ECU (3-0) recorded its third sweep in as many matches, downing Hampton 25-19, 25-12, 25-8.

Pate also added five service aces as the Pirates had another double-figure day with 13 as a team. ECU's attack was strong with 40 kills and the Pirates recorded a .417 hitting percentage. Freshman Sydney Buchanan put on a strong performance with nine kills while Aulie Huff added eight kills and Kai Bailey tallied three blocks.

The Pirates rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the first set with a 6-0 run capped off with back-to-back kills from Bailey, putting ECU in front 8-5. Hampton never got regained the lead in the set as ECU went ahead by as much as five before closing the set on a kill from Pate and an ace from Carlia Northcross.

ECU's slow start in the first set woke up the team for the second set as the Pirates broke the set open with a 7-0 run to take a 12-5 lead. The Pirates lead swelled to a 19-9 advantage after a block from Huff and Northcross and ECU cruised comfortably to take the second set.

The start of the third set was more of the same with ECU jumping out to a significant lead early at 12-5 after scoring six unanswered. ECU's defense also clamped down, only allowing three more points and closing the set on a 7-1 run.

Huff and Pate were named to Hampton Tournament All-Tournament Team and Pate was named the tournament's MVP.

Up Next
East Carolina remains on the road next weekend at the Bulldog Invitational Sept. 5-6 beginning with Furman on Friday at 2 p.m. All matches will be streamed on ESPN+.