WILMINGTON, N.C. – An experienced East Carolina side stood fast in its campaign lidlifter Friday morning, registering a 3-0 (25-11, 25-22, 27-25) victory over Queens University in the first match of the Hampton Inn and Suites Seahawk Classic at Hanover Hall.
 
Returning five starters, including American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year and junior outside hitter Angeles Alderete, the Pirates (1-0) essentially dominated the stat sheet, piling up 48 kills, 44 digs, six service aces and five blocks, while limiting the Royals (0-1) to 21 kills and a paltry .057 hitting percentage. Though committing one extra attacking error that its counterpart across the net, ECU still finished with a robust .279 hitting mark.
 
The aforementioned Alderete launched her bid for a third consecutive All-AAC selection, notching her first double-double of the year. She posted 10 kills and a team-high 12 digs while avoiding a reception error in 21 attempts. Senior right side Jennings Hall enjoyed a career performance, collecting a personal-best eight kills with one error in 17 attempts for a .412 hitting percentage. Junior middle blocker Carlia Northcross was spectacular as usual, ending up with nine kills on 11 swings with no errors for a sizzling .818 percentage (as well as three blocks), while graduate student and right side Fran McBride contributed nine kills, three blocks and a .533 hitting clip to the cause.
 
Set One: Despite an early 3-3 deadlock to begin the day's proceedings, East Carolina quickly seized the upper hand by scoring eight of the next 10 points to push in front by six and force a Queens timeout. The advantage blossomed to 18-7 following a kill by freshman middle blocker Aleicea Watson and it was all Pirates from there. Northcross and Hall slammed the door shut with consecutive scores to afford ECU the early match lead.
 
Set Two: With the sides even at nine points apiece in the second stanza, a quick 4-0 spurt capped by a Payton Evenstad ace allowed the Pirates some breathing room. East Carolina looked to run away and hide as a Queens service error made it 18-12, but the Royals fought all the way within two points late at 24-22 before Hall put down a kill to end it.
 
Set Three: In a third frame that featured nine tie scores and four lead changes, the Pirates led 14-10 via a Northcross kill but saw Queens rip off a 5-1 run to knot things up. Ellie Pate made it 20-20 later in the set and the race to 25 commenced. The Royals were the first to reach the precipice when Emma Norris came up with a kill, but ECU was not to be denied in the end as it fought off two set points and utilized a pair of Alderete tallies as part of a match-ending 5-1 spurt.

• The Pirates improved to 26-22 in season openers dating back to a 3-2 victory over UNC Greensboro in the program's first-ever match.
• East Carolina improved to 2-0 versus Queens University in the sport of volleyball.
• The Pirates registered their 15th sweep of an opponent since the start of the 2023 season.
• Watson and senior transfer setter Mackenzie Jefferson made their first appearances in the Purple and Gold.
• Alderete requires just 123 kills and 308 digs to cement herself as the seventh player in school history to record 1,000 of both statistical measures.

Up Next: East Carolina continues its opening weekend of play Friday evening at 6 p.m. versus tournament host UNCW.