Pirates Post First Win of the Season in Pirate Invitational

Friday, August 28

Greenville, N.C.

7:00 P.M.

East Carolina University

1-0,0-0American

Bethune-Cookman

0-2,0-0SWAC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Bethune-Cookman	20	11	12	0
East Carolina	25	25	25	3

Pirates Post First Win of the Season in Pirate Invitational

August 28, 2026 | Volleyball

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina Pirates opened their 2026 season with a three-set sweep in their first match of the Pirate Invitational against Bethune-Cookman. Ellie Pate led the Pirates in her first game back from injury with 10 kills, two service aces, and one dig, finishing one dig shy of a double-double.

SET ONE: BETHUNE-COOKMAN 20, EAST CAROLINA 25
The Pirates traded points with Bethune-Cookman, with six lead changes and 10 ties.

ECU averaged a .333 hitting percentage in the set, with Angeles Alderete accounting for four of her eight kills. Her hitting helped the Pirates break the stalemate and take the first set.

SET TWO: BETHUNE-COOKMAN 11, EAST CAROLINA 25
The Pirates found their rhythm in set two, with Pate going on two four-point runs and earning one of her two service aces on the night.

Angeles Alderete and Aulie Huff each averaged over a .500 hitting percentage in the set, with only one error each.

SET THREE: BETHUNE-COOKMAN 12, EAST CAROLINA 25
Pirate defense stood out in the final set of the night. Nina Edwards totaled three block assists, with Aulie Huff adding two more. The Pirates held B-CU to a .000 hitting percentage in the set, forcing eight attack errors.

Taryn Gilreath had nine assists, with Huff and Pate each adding four kills. Freshman Lhogan Wright recorded her first collegiate kill, maintaining a 1.000 hitting percentage on the season so far.
Four Pirates finished the night over .400 hitting, with Huff and Pate posting double-digit kills at 12 and 11. Brooklyn Allison anchored the back line with 10 digs.

With five digs on the night, Alderete is now five digs away from joining the 1,000 kills/1,000 digs club, making her the seventh player in program history to do so.

The Pirates improved from .283 to .450 by the third set, compared to B-CU's -.022 hitting percentage on the night. The team had six service aces and totaled 6.0 blocks, with Huff and Edwards contributing in that category.

East Carolina is back in action for its second game of the season Saturday against Hampton University. The match is set for 7:00 p.m. ET in Minges Coliseum, where the Pirates aim to keep their momentum.