Saturday, September 20
Chapel Hill, N.C.
6:00 p.m.
East Carolina University
vs
Kansas State
Pirates Gear Up For Final Non-Conference Tests In Kansas State and No. 25 North Carolina
September 19, 2025 | Volleyball
| Matches 10-11: Kansas State (5-1) and No. 25 North Carolina (6-1) | |
| Coverage |  Sept. 20 (vs. Kansas State) | 6 p.m. | Live Stats  Sept. 21 (at No. 25 North Carolina) | 4 p.m. | Watch | Live Stats |
| Venue | Â Carmichael Arena (Chapel Hill, N.C.) |
| Match Notes | Â East Carolina | Kansas State | North Carolina |
| Social Media | Â Twitter | Instagram | #ECUVB #GoPirates |
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Chapel Hill, N.C. – The East Carolina volleyball team is set for its final non-conference tests this weekend before the Pirates undergo their American Conference slate as ECU faces Kansas State and No. 25 North Carolina at Carmichael Arena Sept. 20-21.
ECU (8-1) will battle Kansas State (5-1) on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. and wrap up the weekend against the Tar Heels (6-1) on Sunday at 4 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
The Pirates are off to their best start of the Adler Augustin era and are a combined 7-1 in road and neutral site matches this season. Setter Taryn Gilreath (333 assists) is coming off American Conference Honorable Mention honors in back-to-back weeks while outside hitter Ellie Pate leads the team offensively with 117 kills. Aulie Huff (97 kills) and Sydney Buchanan (79 kills) provide secondary firepower, and the Pirates are bolstered defensively by Carlia Northcross (39 total blocks), Kai Bailey (41 total blocks) and Brooklyn Allison (121 digs).
Last Time Out
Ellie Pate had her third consecutive double-double of the season with 16 kills and 13 digs as East Carolina outlasted Wake Forest in a five-setter (25-20, 11-25, 19-25, 25-18, 19-17) on Tuesday evening in the Pirates' home opener at Minges Coliseum.
Sydney Buchanan added 13 kills and Aulie Huff recorded 11 kills for the Pirates (8-1) who defeated Wake Forest (4-5) for the first time since Oct. 18, 1980.
Looking At Kansas State
Kansas State enters the weekend with a 5-1 mark overall and all of the Wildcats' first six matches have been sweeps including the Wildcats' lone loss. Shaylee Myers leads Kansas State's attack with 89 kills and is averaging 4.94 kills per set. Ava LeGrand is the top setter for the Wildcats' offense with 188 total assists and 10.44 per set (18th in NCAA).
The Kansas State Series
Saturday's match will be the first meeting all-time between the Pirates and Wildcats.
Looking At North Carolina
North Carolina enters the weekend playing exceptional volleyball as well with a 6-1 record and ranked No. 25 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll. UNC handled in-state foe App State at home on Tuesday evening, 3-1, behind 17 kills from Safi Hampton. Hampton leads the Tar Heels' attack with 86 kills (3.58 per set) while Hailey Pierce adds 77 kills (2.85 per set). Carolina has recorded two sweeps on the season, including one against then-No. 11 Florida at home on Sept. 9.
The North Carolina Series
North Carolina leads the all-time series with East Carolina 39-5, including a 20-1 mark against the Pirates at home. The last time ECU defeated UNC was on Feb. 28, 2021, when the Pirates snapped a 29-match losing streak with a sweep of the Tar Heels. The Pirates have lost 20 straight matches on the road to Carolina with the first-ever meeting between the two schools back on Oct. 18, 1971, being the last time ECU won at North Carolina.
Up Next
East Carolina begins American Conference play next weekend with a trip to the Sunshine State to face South Florida and Florida Atlantic beginning with the Bulls on Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
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Chapel Hill, N.C. – The East Carolina volleyball team is set for its final non-conference tests this weekend before the Pirates undergo their American Conference slate as ECU faces Kansas State and No. 25 North Carolina at Carmichael Arena Sept. 20-21.
ECU (8-1) will battle Kansas State (5-1) on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. and wrap up the weekend against the Tar Heels (6-1) on Sunday at 4 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
The Pirates are off to their best start of the Adler Augustin era and are a combined 7-1 in road and neutral site matches this season. Setter Taryn Gilreath (333 assists) is coming off American Conference Honorable Mention honors in back-to-back weeks while outside hitter Ellie Pate leads the team offensively with 117 kills. Aulie Huff (97 kills) and Sydney Buchanan (79 kills) provide secondary firepower, and the Pirates are bolstered defensively by Carlia Northcross (39 total blocks), Kai Bailey (41 total blocks) and Brooklyn Allison (121 digs).
Last Time Out
Ellie Pate had her third consecutive double-double of the season with 16 kills and 13 digs as East Carolina outlasted Wake Forest in a five-setter (25-20, 11-25, 19-25, 25-18, 19-17) on Tuesday evening in the Pirates' home opener at Minges Coliseum.
Sydney Buchanan added 13 kills and Aulie Huff recorded 11 kills for the Pirates (8-1) who defeated Wake Forest (4-5) for the first time since Oct. 18, 1980.
Looking At Kansas State
Kansas State enters the weekend with a 5-1 mark overall and all of the Wildcats' first six matches have been sweeps including the Wildcats' lone loss. Shaylee Myers leads Kansas State's attack with 89 kills and is averaging 4.94 kills per set. Ava LeGrand is the top setter for the Wildcats' offense with 188 total assists and 10.44 per set (18th in NCAA).
The Kansas State Series
Saturday's match will be the first meeting all-time between the Pirates and Wildcats.
Looking At North Carolina
North Carolina enters the weekend playing exceptional volleyball as well with a 6-1 record and ranked No. 25 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll. UNC handled in-state foe App State at home on Tuesday evening, 3-1, behind 17 kills from Safi Hampton. Hampton leads the Tar Heels' attack with 86 kills (3.58 per set) while Hailey Pierce adds 77 kills (2.85 per set). Carolina has recorded two sweeps on the season, including one against then-No. 11 Florida at home on Sept. 9.
The North Carolina Series
North Carolina leads the all-time series with East Carolina 39-5, including a 20-1 mark against the Pirates at home. The last time ECU defeated UNC was on Feb. 28, 2021, when the Pirates snapped a 29-match losing streak with a sweep of the Tar Heels. The Pirates have lost 20 straight matches on the road to Carolina with the first-ever meeting between the two schools back on Oct. 18, 1971, being the last time ECU won at North Carolina.
Up Next
East Carolina begins American Conference play next weekend with a trip to the Sunshine State to face South Florida and Florida Atlantic beginning with the Bulls on Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
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Players Mentioned
Defensive Specialist/Libero
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Right Side
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
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