Pirates Fast Start Not Enough to Overcome Tulane - East Carolina University Athletics

Sunday, October 25

New Orleans, LA

2:00 P.M.

East Carolina University

15-7,8-2American

Tulane

17-3,9-1American

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
East Carolina	25	18	17	22	1
Tulane	14	25	25	25	3

October 25, 2026 | Volleyball

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS, La. – East Carolina opened Sunday's match strong but couldn't maintain its momentum, falling to Tulane 3-1 (14-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-22) at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse. With the Pirates and the Green Wave having been tied at the top of American Conference standings, Tulane now stands alone at the top, with ECU one game behind in second.

Set One: East Carolina 25, Tulane 14
East Carolina came out firing in the opener, using an efficient offense to take a 25-14 win. After the teams traded points early, the Pirates built a lead with their attack and serve, turning a narrow advantage into a commanding one.

With the score tied 3-3, ECU won consecutive points to take the lead before extending it to 9-4. Pate, Aulie Huff and Alderete contributed kills during the stretch, while the Pirates' blocking disrupted Tulane's attack. Huff then delivered back-to-back service aces as East Carolina continued to build momentum.

The Pirates kept the pressure on through the middle of the set, with Kai Bailey recording multiple kills and Pate adding to the offensive effort. They finished with 16 kills on 33 attempts and just one attack error. East Carolina hit .455 as a team to claim the opening frame and a 1-0 match advantage.

Set Two: Tulane 25, Eat Carolina 18
Tulane responded in the second frame, winning 25-18 to even the match. The Green Wave established an early lead and built on it through strong attacking and pressure from the service line, forcing ECU to play from behind for much of the action.

After the teams traded points to open the set, Tulane gradually built a lead, moving ahead 7-3 before extending it to 11-5. The Pirates tried to answer with kills from Pate, Huff and Alderete, and Jaci Hall added a service ace to help ECU cut into the deficit.

East Carolina kept fighting, finding opportunities at the net and working to establish a more consistent offensive rhythm. However, Tulane maintained its advantage behind timely kills and defensive pressure. The Pirates recorded nine kills in the frame but were limited by eight attack errors, finishing with a .029 hitting percentage.

Set Three: Tulane 25, East Carolina 17
The Green Wave carried their momentum into the third frame, taking a 25-17 win to move within one set of the match. Tulane found its offensive rhythm, recording 15 kills while limiting the Pirates' chances to sustain scoring runs.

East Carolina looked to remain within striking distance through contributions from Pate, Bailey and Alderete. Huff and Anwah also contributed at the net as ECU searched for a way to slow Tulane's attack.

Despite the Pirates' efforts, the Green Wave kept finding openings and capitalized on ECU errors to maintain control. Tulane hit .393 in the frame, its most efficient offensive performance of the match, while ECU finished with nine kills and six attack errors.

Set Four: Tulane 25, East Carolina 22
East Carolina battled to extend the match in a competitive fourth frame, but Tulane ultimately secured the 25-22 victory. The frame featured nine ties, the most of any in the match, as the Pirates kept fighting back despite the Green Wave's attempts to pull away.

Tulane created an early advantage and held a 15-14 lead midway through the set. ECU worked to keep the score close, with Pate and Alderete delivering kills while Gilreath continued to set up the Pirates' attack.

The Pirates answered with a late rally. Pate recorded a kill to make it 20-17, and ECU continued to chip away at the deficit through additional kills from Pate and Alderete. A block assist from Ekwe Anwah and Huff helped bring the Pirates within two points at 22-19, and Alderete followed with another kill as ECU cut the margin to 24-22.

East Carolina's comeback attempt fell short, and Tulane recorded the final point to close out the set 25-22 and claim the match in four sets.

Gilreath recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 32 assists and 10 digs, while adding two kills and two block assists. Alderete finished with 11 kills, eight digs and a service ace for 12.5 points. Pate led ECU with 14 kills and nine digs, while Huff added nine kills, eight digs, two service aces and six block assists.

Bailey added eight kills and eight block assists, and Anwah contributed two kills and three block assists. As a team, the Pirates recorded 46 kills, 47 digs and 11 total team blocks.

The Pirates return to Greenville on Friday, October 30, to host Temple for the first time this season. First serve is set for Noon ET.