East Carolina ran its winning streak to five Thursday night with a quick 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-20) sweep of Memphis in an American Athletic Conference volleyball contest inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
The Pirates' (17-4, 8-2 The American) home facility received a facelift over the summer months and the squad is certainly doing its part to fill the stands as it extended the best start in program history with its 17th win in 21 attempts. ECU has also reached eight wins in conference play the fastest of any team to ever wear the Purple and Gold. Additionally, the triumph moved East Carolina a half game in front of South Florida for first place in The American East Division.
The plaudits don't stop there, however. With their 12th straight-set victory of the campaign, the Pirates have notched the most sweeps in a single season in school history (11 in 2005 and 2017).
ECU committed just 10 attacking errors in 108 attempts, putting down 40 kills to finish with a .278 hitting percentage. Conversely, the Tigers (8-14, 4-6 The American) hit just .185 after compiling 19 errors on 124 swings with 42 kills. The Pirates held the advantage in total digs (57-52) and service aces (4-3) while the sides finished even with three total blocks apiece.
Sophomore outside hitter Angeles Alderete was the lone player in the match to reach double figures in the kill column (11), adding 11 digs to polish off her seventh double-double of the year. Senior right side Fran McBride chipped in with eight kills and a .350 hitting percentage to go along with respective 11 and 10 dig performances by junior defensive specialist Kenzie Beckham and junior setter Payton Evenstad. Tabytha Toelke paced the visitors with nine kills and 12 digs.
The Pirates and Tigers, as well as the rest of the league, will be back in action on Friday with East Carolina and Memphis wrapping up their series at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+.