Sunday, October 2
East Carolina 3, Tulane 1 – Box Score
Houston 3, Temple 1 – Box Score
UCF 3, Wichita State 0 – Box Score
Memphis 3, Cincinnati 1 – Box Score
Recaps
East Carolina 3, Tulane 1 – Box Score
GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina picked up its first American Athletic Conference victory of the campaign Sunday afternoon, disposing of Tulane 3-1 (25-27, 25-21, 25-16, 25-19) inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
The Pirates (6-10, 1-3 AAC) racked up 14 blocks and 11 service aces while limiting the Green Wave (5-10, 0-4 AAC) to a .185 hitting percentage. The 11 aces are the most in program history in an American Conference match.
Angeles Alderete tied for match-high honors with 18 kills and completed a double-double by adding 13 digs. Julianna Askew also put together a nice performance, finishing with 20 assists, six digs and four kills. Kenzie Beckham paced all players in the contest with 21 digs. Melissa Kolurbasi led Tulane with 18 kills and a .308 hitting percentage.
ECU got off on the right foot in the opening set when a block by Kianie Cummings and Brittany Wood gave the Pirates a 9-4 advantage. Following a Green Wave timeout, East Carolina stretched its lead to 21-14 before Tulane rattled off seven-straight points to knot the score. The visitors seized on the momentum and eventually captured the frame in extra points.
The second stanza was nip and tuck for the early portion until a kill by Izzy Marinelli and a Green Wave bad set afford the Pirates some breathing room at 15-11. Tulane answered with an 8-4 run that tied things up at 19, but East Carolina dug down and ended the set on a 6-2 run to deadlock the match 1-1 at the intermission.
It was all ECU in the third as it forced the Green Wave into negative hitting efficiency (-.026) to easily win the frame by nine. The Pirates finished the job in the fourth, utilizing a 9-0 run in the middle part of the set to build an insurmountable lead.
Houston 3, Temple 1 – Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – University of Houston graduate middle-blocker Isabel Theut earned her first double-double of the season to aid the Cougars in a 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-14, 25-21) win over Temple on Sunday afternoon at McGonigle Hall.
Houston (13-2, 4-0 The American) has now posted its best record through 15 games in the David Rehr era and its best 15 game record since 2018. The team continues its league unbeaten streak through four games, remaining tied for the top spot in the conference with UCF.
Theut posted 15 kills and a career-high 15 digs in the match, earning her first career double-double. Junior setter and preseason all-conference team member Annie Cooke tallied a season-best 45 assists and senior outside hitter Abbie Jackson led the match with 21 kills, her 16th career match with 20-plus kills.
UCF 3, Wichita State 0 – Box Score
WICHITA, Kan. – The UCF volleyball team improved to 12-0 on the season and 4-0 in The American with a sweep over Wichita State on Sunday. The Shockers fall to 7-7 on the year and 2-1 in The American.
McKenna Melville finished with 15 kills in the match and three blocks. Kari Zumach added 12 kills for the Knights. Amber Olson paced the match with 32 assists.
Brylee Kelly ended the match with 12 kills for the Shockers while being paced by Kayce Litzau. Litzau also led the Shockers with six digs in the match.
Memphis 3, Cincinnati 1 – Box Score
CINCINNATI, Ohio – Memphis (12-5) defeated Cincinnati (3-11) in a four setter on Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers and Bearcats wen back-and-forth during the first set that had seven ties and four lead changes. Cincinnati took a 23-22 lead in the set, but Memphis defended two set points and had four straight kills to take the first frame 26-24.
The second set belonged the Bearcats after they jumped out to a 10-4 lead. Memphis rallied to win the third 25-20. The third stayed close with the teams tied at 15. Memphis was able to pull away with kills from Jasmyn Tate and errors made by the Bearcats.
The fourth set was all Memphis, with the Tigers never trailing. Cincinnati went on a mini-run in the middle of the st to get within three but would get no closer. Memphis won the set 25-22.