GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina volleyball team is gearing up for two home matches at Minges Coliseum. They’ll first face the Rice Owls on October 31, then take on the Temple Owls on November 2.
ECU (11-10, 3-7 American) had a mixed week, winning against Charlotte but falling to South Florida in their last match. Rice (13-8, 9-1 American) is on a roll, boasting a nine-game winning streak and only one loss in the conference. They come into this game with strong momentum, having swept six of their last matches. In their last meeting, Rice dominated ECU, sweeping the match and improving their series record to 10-2 against the Pirates.
One of Rice’s standout players is Preston Taylor. Leading the conference with 354 points, he averages an impressive 4.85 points per set. His skills extend to serving, with 20 aces and 315 kills so far. On defense, Gaby Mansfield has tallied 288 digs, while Arissa Smith stands out with 81 blocks this season.
On the other hand, Temple (13-10, 3-7 American) will first play Charlotte before traveling to Greenville. Earlier this season, ECU pulled off a comeback against Temple, winning in five sets. The Pirates hope to maintain their 12-9 all-time record against the Owls. Offensively, Temple’s Christina Greene has been a key player, contributing 310 points and 272 kills. Defensively, Olivia Hummels leads with 221 digs, and Alyssa Finister has recorded 72 blocks.
Mark your calendars: the match against Rice starts at 6:00 p.m. ET on October 31, and Sunday’s match against Temple kicks off at 12:00 p.m. ET. Fans can catch all the action on ESPN+!
