GREENVILLE, N.C.\u00a0\u2014 East Carolina volleyball picked up their third straight American Conference win, extending a four-game win streak, sweeping North Texas 3-0 on Friday night inside Williams Arena at Minges, defeating the Mean Green, 30-28, 25-21, 25-20.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Pirates improved to 10-5 overall and 3-0 in conference play, the best Pirate start in conference in program history. \u00a0<\/p>\n
SET ONE: NORTH TEXAS 28, EAST CAROLINA 30\u00a0 ECU maintained the advantage through the middle stages before the Mean Green rallied late. North Texas erased a 23-21 deficit and scored three straight points to take a 24-23 lead, forcing ECU to battle through set point.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Pirates answered with a kill from Ekwe Anwah<\/a> to tie the set at 24-all before the teams traded points deep into extra time. In an attack error from the Mean Green, the Pirates came out on top to end the match 30-28.\u00a0<\/p>\n Pate led ECU with seven kills in the opening frame, while Huff added four and Anwah recorded two. The Pirates hit .167 as a team in the first set and recorded four team blocks.\u00a0<\/p>\n SET TWO: NORTH TEXAS 21, EAST CAROLINA 25\u00a0 The set remained tightly contested, with neither team able to pull away through the middle portion. ECU eventually created separation late, using a four-point run to turn an 18-17 advantage into a 22-17 lead.\u00a0<\/p>\n North Texas attempted to fight back, but ECU held firm. Pate and Anwah each recorded key kills down the stretch, and Anwah closed the set with another kill as the Pirates secured a 25-21 win and took a 2-0 lead in the match.\u00a0<\/p>\n Anwah was held efficient in the second set, recording six kills on eight attacks without an error for a .750 hitting percentage. ECU hit .312 as a team in the frame.\u00a0<\/p>\n SET THREE: NORTH TEXAS 20, EAST CAROLINA 25\u00a0 The teams continued to trade points throughout the middle of the frame before ECU began to create some separation. With the score tied at 16, the Pirates rattled off three consecutive points to take a 19-16 advantage.\u00a0<\/p>\n North Texas pulled within two at 21-19, but ECU responded with a late push. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\nThe Pirates came out firing in the opening set, jumping out to a 7-0 lead behind kills from Ellie Pate<\/a> and Aulie Huff<\/a> and a pair of service aces from Angeles Alderete<\/a>. North Texas responded with a run of its own, eventually trimming the deficit and turning the set into a back-and-forth battle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nNorth Texas grabbed an early advantage in the second set, but ECU quickly settled in and kept the score close. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\nThe Mean Green opened the third set with an early lead, but ECU quickly answered. After North Texas took a 4-1 advantage, the Pirates battled back to tie the set at 7-7.\u00a0<\/p>\n