STATESBORO, Ga. –  The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team dropped its season opener to East Carolina (ECU), 3-0 (21-25, 12-25, 15-25) at the Bash in the Boro Tournament on Friday.
 
How it Happened
The Pirates gained the momentum early on in the first set with a 3-0 run over the Spartans. However, UNCG responded with a 4-0 run to gain the lead. The beginning of set one was a close game until ECU notched a 5-0 run to make the score 15-11 in favor of the Pirates. ECU continued its lead for a 17-12 advantage, but the Spartans rallied back to get within three (18-21), thanks to a kill from Mallory Meers. A service error from UNCG gave the Pirates the first set, 25-21.
 
The second set started off as a close battle. However, the Pirates recorded a 6-2 run to take a 10-6 lead and hold the advantage for the rest of set two. A kill from ECU's Ellie Pate allowed the Pirates to earn the second set, 25-12.
 
An attack error from ECU followed by a kill from Jocelyn Carter gave the Spartans a 2-0 lead to start off the third set. ECU responded with a 5-0 run, but the Blue & Gold bounced back to tie the third set on two occasions. However, with the set tied at six, the Pirates posted a 9-1 run to take the lead and maintain it for the remainder of the final set. A final kill from Izzy Marinelli gave ECU the third and final set, 25-15.
 
By the Numbers

• Aylin Baran and Lauren Jaonsy made their collegiate debuts, while Madeline Timmerman and Meers made their first appearances as a Spartan on Friday.
• Carter led the Spartans offensively with nine kills and notched a .154 hitting percentage.
• Hallie Cook matched her single game best of two service aces, which she has now achieved on three occasions.
• Meers led the Spartans as the setter by posting 19 assists in just the three sets played. The graduate student also collected seven digs for the squad.
• Avery Sziksai and Mya Wood led the way defensively by notching eight digs apiece.

 
Records
UNCG: 0-1, 0-0 SoCon
ETSU: 1-0, 0-0 American
 
Up Next
The Spartans continue at the Bash in the Boro on Saturday, August 26 with a rematch against ECU at noon and a matchup against host site, Georgia Southern at 5 p.m.