Winthrop Falls in Four Sets to East Carolina in NIVC
By Winthrop Athletics
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Winthrop fell to East Carolina in the first round of the 2024 National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) on their home court, ending their 2024 campaign. With the victory, East Carolina advances to the second round of the NIVC on Friday afternoon at 6 p.m. against Connecticut.
Set 1 | Winthrop led 7-4 after an error by the Pirates. East Carolina responded with a 6-1 run to take a 10-8 lead before consecutive kills by Avery Jolley, another Pirate mistake, two kills by Rachel McCollum and a kill by Karli Shepherd tied it at 14. Jolley's kill on the next play then put the Eagles out in front. Winthrop extended their lead to four at 19-15 on a Pirate error and two straight aces by Jenna Calloway. East Carolina quickly tied it at 20 but an error by the home team and an ace by Jolley gave Winthrop a 22-20 lead. The Pirates tied it again at 22 but two mistakes by East Carolina made it set point Eagles only to watch East Carolina knot the score. McCollum's kill again made it set point for Winthrop and an error by the Pirates on the next play gave Winthrop a 1-0 lead in the match.
Set 2 | The Eagles burst out to an 11-5 lead. McCollum led the way offensively for Winthrop with three kills. East Carolina answered by scoring 13 of the next 18 points to take an 18-16 lead. The Eagles quickly knotted the score at 18 only to have the Pirates score the next five points to break the tie. East Carolina would go on to tie the match a few plays later.
Set 3 | Winthrop led 4-2 early in the third before am 8-3 run by the Pirates gave them a 10-7 lead. The Eagles knotted the frame at 12 after a kill by Shepherd. Then down 14-12, three straight points put Winthrop up by one. East Carolina answered by closing out the set with an 11-4 run to take the lead in the match for the first time.
Set 4 | East Carolina led 8-4 to start the fourth set. Winthrop scored four of the next six points to cut the deficit to 10-8. But that's as close as the Eagles would get as the Pirates ended the match with another closing run, this time a 15-3 tally, including nine straight points.
Top Performers
Avery Jolley (17 kills, .200, 8 digs)
Karli Shepherd (9 kills, 16 digs)
Isabella Murray (.300, 39 assists, 12 digs)
Sydney Nolan (5 kills, .571, 4 total blocks)
Maeve Rehmann (8 kills, .500)