Pirates Stay Undefeated in Pirate Invitational

Sunday, August 30

Greenville, N.C.

3:00 P.M.

East Carolina University

3-0,0-0American

Radford

1-2,0-0Big South

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Radford	21	19	25	15	1
East Carolina	25	25	19	25	3

August 30, 2026 | Volleyball

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina claimed the Pirate Invitational Tournament title on the weekend, earning its third straight win against Radford. Taryn Gilreath, Aulie Huff and Ellie Pate were named to the All-Tournament Team for their efforts over the weekend.

All three players started in all three matches, playing all 10 sets. Gilreath notched 101 assists, averaging 10.10 assists a set, while having six service aces, recording four of them against Radford.

Huff ground in her defensive efforts, gaining 11 of the 24 total blocks that the Pirates recorded over three sets. She averaged 1.10 a set, while having 21 digs and 27 kills, averaging 2.70 kills a set.

Pate shined with 45 kills on the weekend, including 22 kills, also having four total blocks on the weekend. She tied her career high in kills on Saturday night against Hampton with 20, recording double-digit kills in all three matches on the weekend.

SET ONE: RADFORD 21, EAST CAROLINA 25
With seven tied scores in the first set, the match started on a competitive note. Radford built momentum from the first point, holding the lead until the Pirates' 19th point.

The Pirates worked errors in their favor: Radford committed four service errors and eight attack errors, with one service error leading to the final tied score and an attack error resulting in the only lead change, with the Pirates not looking back.

Gilreath recorded two service aces, having nine assists.

The set point came from Radford's final attack error. With an unsuccessful touch challenge on the play, the Pirates secured the first set.

SET TWO: RADFORD 19, EAST CAROLINA 25
The Pirates improved their accuracy in the second set, finishing with a .258 hitting percentage. After falling behind again, ECU climbed back to take the lead and claim the set.

Huff took the reins in set two, having four kills and recording a .667 hitting percentage. She totaled two blocks and 5.0 points.

Angeles Alderate showed her effort with three kills and three digs.

SET THREE: RADFORD 25, EAST CAROLINA 19
In set three, Radford built a hefty lead with a 7-0 run early in the set, and the Pirates' largest deficit was six.

Radford defeated the Pirates, handing them their first set loss of the season, with hitting percentages of .243 to .028.

The Pirates slowly cut the deficit to two, with a kill and a block from Pate and Jaci Hall recording her first collegiate ace.

Radford solidified 14 kills, compared to the Pirates' nine.

Angeles and Pate both recorded three kills in the set, and the team had 3.0 total blocks.

SET FOUR: RADFORD 15, EAST CAROLINA 25
East Carolina responded to the loss by overcoming Radford one final time and pulling away by 10.

The Pirates upped the ante with 16 kills and a .441 hitting percentage.

Four Pirates recorded two or more kills, with Gilreath having 12 assists on 20 attempts.

Ekwe Anwah and Huff each recorded two block assists, anchoring the Pirates' defense. Pate recorded the final kill to seal the perfect weekend, as the Pirates went 3-0 with only one set loss.

The Pirates totaled 24.0 total blocks with 155 digs on the weekend. The defense held its own, with 135 kills and 16 service aces.

East Carolina now goes on the road for two weekends in a row, starting September 4 at the Clemson Tournament. The Pirates are set to open the tournament against Appalachian State at 2:00 p.m. Friday.