Friday, September 12
Williamsburg, Va.
7:00 p.m.
East Carolina University
7-0,0-0American
3
at
1
William & Mary
3-3,0-0CAA
1
2
3
4
F
East Carolina
22
26
25
25
3
William & Mary
25
24
20
12
1
Pirates Rally To Defeat William & Mary, 3-1
September 12, 2025 | Volleyball
Williamsburg, Va. – Facing its toughest test yet of the 2025 season, the East Carolina volleyball team answered the challenge with a Friday night victory over William & Mary in four sets (22-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-12) at Kaplan Arena.
Ellie Pate led the Pirates (7-0) offensively with 19 kills while Aulie Huff and Sydney Buchanan each added 14 kills. Kai Bailey was efficient all-around with a .727 hitting percentage, nine kills and five blocks.
ECU got off to a sluggish start in the opening set as William & Mary took a lead as large as 23-14 on a kill. An attack error from William & Mary snapped the Tribe's 5-0 run, giving ECU some life, as the Pirates found themselves right back in the set with a 7-0 run to pull within two points of tying the set at 23-21. ECU's attack error halted the Pirates' near-impossible comeback attempt and the Tribe held on to take the first set.
Despite losing in the first set for the first time this season, the Pirates responded with a better start in the second set by taking an early 8-3 lead. The Pirates were never able to put away the Tribe as William & Mary hung around in the set before taking a 19-18 lead in the latter stages of the second set and a 24-23 edge to put the Pirates on the brink of dropping two sets for the first time in 2025.
However, ECU didn't give in as Pate's kill tied the set and an attack error from the Tribe followed by a kill from Bailey turned the momentum to the Purple and Gold going into the pivotal third set.
Neither team could gain much separation in the third set until a 4-0 run from the Pirates, behind two kills from Huff and Buchanan, gave ECU a 23-17 lead and put the Pirates in position to close out the match in the fourth set.
After three tightly contested sets, the Pirates dominated the fourth set, outhitting the Tribe .583 to -.053 en route to a four-set victory.
Up Next
The Pirates close out their long road trip tomorrow on the final day of the Tribe Invitational against Liberty at 2 p.m.
Ellie Pate led the Pirates (7-0) offensively with 19 kills while Aulie Huff and Sydney Buchanan each added 14 kills. Kai Bailey was efficient all-around with a .727 hitting percentage, nine kills and five blocks.
ECU got off to a sluggish start in the opening set as William & Mary took a lead as large as 23-14 on a kill. An attack error from William & Mary snapped the Tribe's 5-0 run, giving ECU some life, as the Pirates found themselves right back in the set with a 7-0 run to pull within two points of tying the set at 23-21. ECU's attack error halted the Pirates' near-impossible comeback attempt and the Tribe held on to take the first set.
Despite losing in the first set for the first time this season, the Pirates responded with a better start in the second set by taking an early 8-3 lead. The Pirates were never able to put away the Tribe as William & Mary hung around in the set before taking a 19-18 lead in the latter stages of the second set and a 24-23 edge to put the Pirates on the brink of dropping two sets for the first time in 2025.
However, ECU didn't give in as Pate's kill tied the set and an attack error from the Tribe followed by a kill from Bailey turned the momentum to the Purple and Gold going into the pivotal third set.
Neither team could gain much separation in the third set until a 4-0 run from the Pirates, behind two kills from Huff and Buchanan, gave ECU a 23-17 lead and put the Pirates in position to close out the match in the fourth set.
After three tightly contested sets, the Pirates dominated the fourth set, outhitting the Tribe .583 to -.053 en route to a four-set victory.
Up Next
The Pirates close out their long road trip tomorrow on the final day of the Tribe Invitational against Liberty at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
ECU
W&M
Kills
62
44
Errors
16
21
Attempts
136
133
Hitting %
.338
.173
Points
77.0
59.0
Assists
52
43
Aces
3
7
Blocks
12
8
Game Leaders
Kills
19
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
Middle Blocker
/ VolleyballOutside Hitter
/ VolleyballRight Side
/ VolleyballOutside Hitter
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