GREENVILLE, N.C. – In a closely contested battle throughout the entire match, it was the Eastern Washington University volleyball team that came out victorious over Charlotte today (Sept. 7). The Eagles topped the 49ers by a score of 3-1 (25-21, 27-25, 22-25, 25-21) on the second day of the Pirate Invitational. EWU now improves to 6-3 on the season while Charlotte drops to 6-5.
 
"Our energy and our fight was completely different today. I thought we played a better, overall, match because our energy and our effort was better," said head coach Leslie Flores-Cloud. "It took a team today. Charlotte is a really, really, good team and they were taking some big swings at us. We stayed steady and we served to the best of our ability. Our blocking looked good and it slowed things down for us to dig behind them."
 
Neither side seemed to be able to breakaway in the first frame, as no lead grew larger than three points. With Eastern down 19-18, they fired off four straight points thanks to kills from Taylor Larsen, Samantha Boever and two from Alexandra Espinosa to lead 22-19. Charlotte would come back within two points, but the Eagles were able to keep the edge, taking set one 25-21 to take a 2-1 lead.
 
Set two was just as close until Charlotte was able to take a 12-6 lead. Trailing 17-12, the Eagles began to find their offensive momentum. A kill by Kaitlin Sugai would spark a 4-0 run to put the Eagles within one point. A 3-0 run later in the set by EWU tied the match at 20-20. After the 49ers regained a two-point lead, the Eagles clawed back and tied the set at 23-all. Facing set point, Sugai hammered down a kill that tied the set at 24 apiece. The Eagles would face set point again, 25-24, when they fired off three straight points to come from behind and win 27-25 to lead 2-0.
 
A 4-0 run helped EWU lead 17-12 in set three. Leading 20-16, Charlotte came from behind and used a 5-0 run to lead 21-20 and force an Eastern Washington timeout. The 49ers would lead 23-21 when Kamille Langford tried to bring Eastern back with a kill, but the Eagles fell short falling 25-22 but still held a 2-1 lead.
 
It was all Eastern Washington early in the decisive fourth set as they jumped out to an 11-3 lead early on. The lead was later extended to 20-11, but Charlotte would not back down as they went on a 5-0 run to cut Eastern's lead to 20-16. EWU was able to hang on and regain momentum to pull back ahead 24-19. The 49ers would fight off match point twice, but Sugai was there with the matching-winning kill to give the Eagles a 25-21 set four victory and a 3-1 win.
 
WIN-LOSS RECORDS: With the victory, Eastern improves to 6-3 on the year, its best start through nine matches since 2005. The Eagles have only been 6-3 five time in program history. Charlotte drops to 6-5 with the loss. The series record between the two squads is now 1-1. Eastern dropped a 3-0 decision to the 49ers last season on Sept. 8, 2017. The Eagles now move to 4-1 on the season in four-set matches.
 
TOP PERFORMERS: The Eagles had three players collect kills into the double digits in Alexandra Espinosa (13), Kamille Langford (12) and Kaitlin Sugai (10). The 12 kills for Langford marked the third-straight match with kills into the double digits while Sugai set a new career-high. Sugai also swung at a .400 clip to lead the Eagles (10k-2e-20ta).
 
Eastern also had an impressive five Eagles reach double-digit digs. Puaoolelagi Sao notched a new career-high with 24, as did MaKenna Davis with 21. Espinosa totaled 17 digs for her fourth-career double-double and first of the season. Samantha Boever rounded the team out with 10. As a team, the Eagles garnered 98 digs which ties for 10^th all-time in program history for digs in a four-set match and is also a season-high.
 
Boever also led the way with 44 assists, tying a career-high and garnering her fourth double-double of the season. She has totaled over 20 assists in all nine matches now and over 40 in four.
 
Taylor Larsen led the team for the second-straight match with four blocks and also contributed with nine kills.
 
KEYS TO THE MATCH: The Eagles were able to hit at a higher clip than the 49ers, hitting at .194 compared to .160. Charlotte had six service aces while Eastern Washington had none. The 49ers also outblocked Eastern 8-6. Defensively, EWU had 98 digs compared to Charlotte's 82.
 
WHAT'S NEXT: The Pirate Invitational concludes this afternoon with one more match against Gardner-Webb. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. Pacific time.
 
MORE FROM COACH FLORES-CLOUD:
 
On Alexandra Espinosa's first return to the lineup since Aug. 30: "Alex is fearless. She is a big part of our energy and she contributes a lot. I was very proud of her today."
 
On facing Gardner-Webb this afternoon: "It took our whole team to pull that one out today, and we barely pulled it out. I think if we can go into this next match knowing that we need to serve and pass well, and if Samantha can set the offense and get it going, it will be really great for us."