DURHAM, N.C. — North Carolina Central University freshman middle blocker Morgan Goodwin totaled eight kills and four blocks in a 3-0 non-conference loss to East Carolina University in her first match inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
The Pirates belted 43 kills at a .217 attack percentage to complete the 25-17, 25-17, 25-22 road conquest. ECU moved to 5-2 overall and the Lady Eagles dipped to 1-6. NCCU next plays a neutral-site match against Wright State University at Campbell University on Saturday at 11 a.m.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
The Lady Eagles finished with nine blocks in comparison to 7.5 by the Pirates. Senior Whitney White led the way with one solo block and four block assists. Freshman Estfania Louis followed with five block assists and Goodwin was part of four tandem blocks.
 
NCCU hit a season-best .144 with Goodwin supplying a team-high eight kills. White ripped seven kills on just 12 attempts with just two misfires for .417 accuracy. Junior Jessica Pilivi matched White with seven kills while Louis and freshman Arlanda Faulkner each chipped in four spikes.
 
Freshman setter Celene Morris was one dig shy of another double-double as she collected 27 assists and nine digs. Senior libero Erika Ianovale led the Lady Eagles with 11 digs. Pilivi had both of NCCU's aces.
 
EAST CAROLINA HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
Senior setter Madison Clark conducted ECU's strong-hitting attack with 34 assists. She also had five kills, two aces and two block assists for eight points.
 
Sophomore Bri Wood topped the Pirate offense with nine kills and freshman S'mara Riley ripped eight kills. They both finished with 10.5 points as Riley had five block assists and Wood was part of three.
 
Junior libero Maggie Hallow had 15 digs.
 
SET-BY-SET:
 
1ST: ECU broke a 9-9 tie with a 6-0 run on Clark's service rotation. NCCU closed to within three points a couple times, but three consecutive kills off a trio of Pirates capped the eight-point win. ECU hit a match-best .257 in the opener.
 
2ND: A block by Goodwin and Louis had NCCU up 14-12 at the midway point, but the Pirates rattled off the next nine points to sail ahead before securing another set triumph by eight points.
 
3RD: NCCU was closing in on forcing a fourth-set after a kill by Louis had the hosts up 20-19. However, ECU was able to level the score for a 12th and final time with their own that started a closing 6-2 rally. Morris had the Lady Eagles within one, 23-22, with a kill before Riley and Clark ended the match with two straight spikes.