Tulsa pulled off an impressive upset against East Carolina (ECU), securing a dominant 3-0 victory in a match that left the Pirates reeling. The win, which was played at ECU’s Minges Coliseum in Greenville, handed the Pirates their first home loss of the season. With scores of 25-23, 25-22, and 25-22, Tulsa improved its overall record to 16-9 and moved to 8-5 in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). ECU, now 16-7 overall and 9-4 in conference play, remains just one game ahead of the Golden Hurricane in the standings.
Tulsa’s Resilient Performance
Despite trailing early in each set, Tulsa demonstrated remarkable resilience, battling back to claim all three sets and secure their ninth sweep of the season. The victory over ECU showcased the Golden Hurricane’s balanced offense, with multiple players contributing to the team’s attack.
Tatum Tornatta led Tulsa’s offensive charge with 14 kills on 31 attempts, while setters Brayden Hipp and Brittany Bacorn spread the ball across the floor, distributing it evenly among their attackers. Jolana Smidlova (6 kills), Beth Bayless (7 kills), Rachel Brown (8 kills), and Tytiana Johnson (11 kills) all added significant contributions to the victory.
In a match defined by offensive firepower, Johnson was especially consistent, hitting an impressive .471, while also contributing a solo block. Hipp orchestrated the offense with 23 assists on 60 attempts, while Bacorn added 17 assists and a service ace.
Defense: A Key Factor in Tulsa’s Win
While Tulsa’s offense was in full force, the defense had a slower night, recording just 47 digs as a team. Marta Pecalli led the charge with 13 digs, while Bayless and Hipp added 11 and 8, respectively. The blocking front, while minimal with just 3 team blocks, didn’t hinder Tulsa’s ability to control the match.
Despite ECU’s offensive efforts, which included a strong .375 attack percentage in set two, the Pirates couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities. The Pirates were kept out of system by Tulsa’s defense, and their setters managed just 37 assists on 41 team kills.
ECU’s standout player was Angeles Alderete, who tallied 12 kills with a .344 attack percentage and contributed 16 digs in the loss. However, the Pirates were outperformed in nearly every statistical category, as Tulsa continued its streak of dominant play.
Set-by-Set Breakdown
Tulsa’s resilience was evident from the start, with the team fighting back after a 4-0 deficit in set one. They managed to tie the score at 12-12 before taking the lead at 18-17 after an ECU service error. The teams traded points late in the set, but Tulsa eventually closed out set one with a kill from Rachel Brown, winning 25-23.
In set two, Tulsa started behind but surged ahead to a 6-5 lead after a kill from Tornatta. The Golden Hurricane continued to fight through long rallies, eventually extending their lead to 15-11 at the media timeout. ECU responded with a 4-1 run, but Tulsa regained control, closing out set two 25-22.
The final set saw Tulsa battle from behind again, initially trailing 5-9 and later facing a 15-11 deficit after an impressive kill from ECU. However, the Golden Hurricane mounted a strong comeback, scoring five unanswered points to take the lead at 17-15. Tulsa continued to press forward, closing out the set 25-22 and sealing the 3-0 sweep.
With the win over ECU, Tulsa has proven that they can handle pressure and continue to perform under challenging circumstances. As they look to extend their winning streak, the Golden Hurricane will carry the momentum from this impressive victory into their next road game.
