GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Hampton University volleyball team fell in straight sets to East Carolina on Friday to open the East Carolina Classic, as ECU won 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-16) at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
 
The Lady Pirates fell to 0-7 on the season.
 
Allysa Medina led Hampton with eight kills and 11 digs on defense, while Reeana Richardson, Kyndall Nicholas, and Lena Washington each added five kills. Tatyana Thomas led the way with four blocks, and Washington had two.
 
Brianna Lilly had 14 assists, while Alexandra Erhart had 12.
 
ECU (5-1) hit .309 for the match, including a .302 clip in the first set. East Carolina jumped out to a 7-1 lead to open the set, before later taking a 15-7 lead. The Lady Pirates scored four of the next five points to cut the lead to 16-11 after a kill from Medina.
 
East Carolina answered with a 5-1 run to take a 21-12 lead, before ultimately taking the first set 25-17.
 
After ECU opened the second set with a 7-2 lead, the Lady Pirates scored the next four points to cut the lead to 7-6 after a kill from Richardson. Another kill, this one from Nicholas, cut ECU's lead to 8-7, before East Carolina scored the next four points to go up 12-7.
 
Hampton answered with a 5-1 run, cutting the lead to 13-12 after Washington and Thomas paired on a block. An ECU error later cut the lead to 15-13, before ECU ended the set on a 10-1 run to go up 2-0 in the match.
 
Hampton led 5-4 early in the third set, its first lead of the match, and a kill from Medina later gave the Lady Pirates a 7-6 lead. The two teams traded points on the next several rallies before back-to-back kills from Richardson put the Lady Pirates up 11-9.
 
But ECU rebounded to take a 12-11 lead before Richardson tied the set at 12-12 with a kill. East Carolina then went on an 8-2 run to take a 20-14 lead. Nicholas ended the run with a kill to cut the lead to 20-15, before ECU ended the set on a 5-1 run to take the match.
 
ECU hit .417 in the third set.
 
The Lady Pirates will take on William & Mary (10 a.m.) and Western Carolina (3 p.m.) on Saturday. For more information on Hampton University volleyball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.