GREENVILLE, NC – The East Carolina University (ECU) Pirates used a considerable advantage in serves and blocks to defeat the North Carolina A&T Aggies in non-conference volleyball play Thursday night, 3-0 (25-14, 21, 14) during the first day of the East Carolina Invitational at Williams Arena at Minges.  

The Aggies lost their first match of the season to drop to 2-1 as they went the entire night without service ace but did score five times on five ECU service errors. But the Pirates, who improved to 4-0 on the young season, compiled seven aces and took advantage of five A&T service errors to end the match with a 12-5 advantage in the service game.

Meanwhile, the Aggies had only one solo block, while the Pirates scored eight points off blocks. Senior Hannah Howell led the Aggies with 12 kills. In the first set, the Pirates used an effective offense to win. They hit .393 in the first set, with five Pirates securing at least two kills. It was in the second set that the Aggies played their best.

A&T grabbed a 14-12 lead before the Pirates ran off five straight points to take a three-point lead over the Aggies. The run led to the Aggies calling timeout. Out of the timeout, Howell secured a kill off a pass from sophomore Leonor Polezzi to get the Aggies to within two. But the Aggies could not get any closer than the two for the remainder of the set.

ECU's Angeles Alderete gave the Pirates set point at 24-20 before A&T freshman Tyne Ross earned a side out for the Aggies with a kill. Ellie Pate gave the Pirates a 2-0 lead in the match, however, with a kill. Ross had six kills in the second set to complement Howell's five, but Alderete had five kills in the set to lead the Pirates.

"I felt like we played well in spurts today, especially the second set," said A&T head coach Hal Clifton. "We had a lead but got tentative, and ECU took advantage of that. We lost the serve and pass battle, which resulted in us struggling to side out. Hannah attacked the ball well, but we were just out of system too much to create a flow on offense."

In the final set, the Aggies hit -.094, and ECU's Carlia Northcross and Pate had four kills apiece to help the Pirates complete the three-set sweep. Ross added 10 kills for the Aggies and has compiled at least 10 in her first three matches as an Aggie. Pate led the Pirates with 10 kills.   

The Aggies continue play in the East Carolina Invitational Friday evening at 4 against Western Carolina at Williams Arena at Minges.