ECU • The Pirates enter Friday with a 10-6 conference record and 19-10 overall mark. • ECU ranks third in The American in hitting percentage (.236) and fourth in both kills (13.30) and assists per set (12.37). • Senior Natalie Montini ranks third in the league in hitting percentage (.349), while sophomore Brandee Markwith ranks fourth in digs per set (5.14). Freshman Shelby Martin ranks sixth and leads all freshmen in assists per set (9.67). Markwith also leads the team in service aces per set (0.23). Senior Lael Ceriani leads the squad in kills per set (3.18), while sophomore Toya Osuegbu holds the top mark in blocks per set (1.10). • Houston fell 3-1 at ECU on Oct. 15. • The Pirates are in their fifth season under Head Coach Julie Torbett. • ECU was picked 11th in The American Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Cincinnati • The Bearcats, who visit Tulane on Friday, are 9-7 in league play and 11-17 overall on the season. • Cincinnati ranks fourth in The American in blocker per set (2.27). • Junior Carly Nolan leads the league and ranks 31st in the country in kills per set (4.12). Junior Jasmine Jones ranks fourth in the league in blocks per set (1.15), while Jade Tinglehoff ranks fifth in assists per set (9.77). Jones leads the team in hitting percentage (.273), while Nolan holds the top mark in service aces per set (0.23). Junior Abby Williams leads the squad in digs per set (3.78). • Houston fell 3-1 at Cincinnati on Oct. 13. • Head Coach Molly Alvey is in her sixth year at the helm of the Bearcats. Alvey posted a 38-24 record as the head coach at Houston from 2010-11 prior to taking over at Cincinnati. • The Bearcats were tabbed second in The American Preseason Coaches’ Poll, receiving five first-place votes.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE • The Cougars finished with a conference-record 15 service aces. The previous best was 14, set by Houston in 3-2 loss against USF on Nov. 1, 2015, inside Athletics/Alumni Center. • Afflerbaugh finished with a career-high six service aces. Her six aces tie for the third highest recorded in a match in program history, tying Cecilia Blias (vs. Baylor, Oct. 30, 1986), Gretchen Klug (vs. Texas Southern, Sept. 9, 1987) and Nicole Gunsaulus (vs. Texas A&M, Oct. 5, 1990). She also finished with 10 digs. • Lynch led Houston with 16 kills, her 12th time to lead the team on the season. • Gardner finished with 11 kills, a career-high five aces and three blocks (one solo, two assisted). • Sophomore outside hitter Megan Duncan finished with nine kills and three blocks (one solo, two assisted), while redshirt junior middle blocker Chenelle Walker totaled five kills and four blocks (one solo, three assisted). • Freshman setter Abby Irvine just missed a double-double with 28 assists and nine digs. • Sophomore libero Katie Karbo tallied 25 digs on the back row. • ECU outhit Houston, .189-.185.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE • Pertens led Houston with 11 kills, her first time to lead the team on the season. • Gardner finished with eight kills, four blocks (all assisted) and the team’s lone service ace. She has recorded three blocks or more in 18 matches in 2017. • Sophomore libero Katie Karbo finished with 12 digs. • Freshman setter Abby Irvine tallied 19 assists and six digs. • Freshman outside hitter Gabi Zelaya finished with eight digs and three kills. • Cincinnati outhit Houston, .250-.152.
