Bruin helps Pirates spike Seahawks

Bruin helps Pirates spike Seahawks
Sophomore slams 16 kills in victory
By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
GREENVILLE -- Lizzy Bruin danced around a bit while listening to the music during timeouts in East Carolina’s volleyball match against UNC-Wilmington. The sophomore spiker certainly got her groove on when the teams were on the court, walloping a match-high 16 kills in ECU’s 3-1 victory.
The kill total, coming in a 25-21, 25-23, 19-25, 25-15 victory Wednesday evening at Minges Coliseum, was one off Bruin’s career-high. Bruin credited setter Hannah Fenker with her success.
“We connected really well,” Bruin said. “It’s just about having confidence in each other. I have confidence in her and she has confidence in me.
“I felt pretty good out there. I saw the block really well tonight and I was just trying to hit around it. I feel pretty content with what I did.”
Bruin wasn’t even sure about her status with the team after having shoulder surgery in the summer. However, she aggressively rehabbed the shoulder and seems to be as strong as ever.
“It was definitely all about confidence,” Bruin said. “Usually when you come back from shoulder surgery, it’s hard to get your confidence back. I just knew that I had to come back and play my game.
“I didn’t expect to be doing this well, but I worked so hard and I think I deserve to be doing this.”
Erica Banning added 10 kills for the Pirates (9-4) as she and Bruin dominated the middle of the net.
“Our middle hitters did a great job hitting tonight,” ECU coach Chris Rushing said. “Erica and Lizzy were really the ones that pretty much pulled us through.”
ECU took a 2-0 lead in the match, only to see the Seahawks (5-5) force a fourth game. The Pirates and Seahawks were tied at 10-10 before ECU started to pull away.
With her team leading 17-13, Bruin rocketed a ball to the floor that fell for a kill, which seemed to light a late spark in the Pirates. Banning followed with a couple kills a short time later for a 21-15 advantage.
The Pirates finished off the match with kills by Amanda Lutzow (seven kills, 10 digs), Fenker (four kills, 43 assists) and Banning.
“That made it a lot more comfortable for them,” Rushing said. “They were able to settle down a bit. It was nice to see that, after we lost a set, it was nice to come back and finish strong.”
While Fenker had a couple kills in the final set, the junior was the one normally setting the table for the hitters. She played a near-flawless match in the victory. The junior passed on the praise to ECU’s big hitters on the night.
“Lizzy and Erica did great,” Fenker said. “I think they both hit over .500 and that’s phenomenal for both of them to do that.”
Fenker shrugged off her own solid night on the court.
“It’s not so much about how I play,” Fenker said. “I’d rather get a win than me play really well.”
The Pirates and Seahawks traded points throughout the first set. Bruin started to shine early, while Lutzow, Stephanie Turner (six kills, eight digs) and Banning had key kills late in the set to help ECU pull away.
The Seahawks grabbed the early control in the second set, 6-4. A pair of smashes by Bruin helped energize the Pirates, giving them a 13-12 lead.
Britney Roper (three kills) had a kill that gave ECU a 19-16 cushion, but Wilmington was able to respond and took a 21-20 lead. A powerful bash by Bruin tied it up, while her fifth kill of the set gave ECU a 24-22 edge. A miss-hit by the Seahawks gave ECU the victory.
ECU found itself in a hole early in the third set and could never recover. Paula McConnell, Lindsey Strucko and Megan Nash, who all had nine kills, led the Seahawks to victory to force another set.
Bruin, Banning, Roper and Fenker all had put-downs early in the fourth set to give ECU a 10-5 advantage, only to see Wilmington storm back to pull within 11-10.
However, Bruin began to assert herself at the net, smacking four kills in a six-point barrage that gave the Pirates an 18-13 lead. It was all Pirates the rest of the way.
Trish Monroe tallied 20 digs to lead the defensive effort.
The Pirates are back in action this weekend as they host the East Carolina Invitational. ECU will take on Conference USA-foe Marshall at 7 p.m. Friday, followed by matches against Morgan State and N.C. State on Saturday.
“It’s going to be tough,” Rushing. “We’re playing a very good team in Marshall. I think the girls will come out with some intensity.”