Volleyball Opens Preseason Camp Amidst Heightened Expectations

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Nearly a decade ago, volleyball at East Carolina University was poised for a lengthy run of success. The Pirates had won 39 matches over the 2005 and 2006 campaigns, finishing fifth and sixth in the Conference USA standings respectively.

Things do not always go according to plan, however. Following that short burst of prosperity, the program went dormant for a handful of years but is poised for a rebound. Before current head coach Julie Torbett arrived, the Pirates won just 15 matches in four seasons. Entering her fourth year in charge, Torbett has begun to turn it around to the tune of 40 victories in just three short seasons.

It is that sense of promise that has everyone associated with the team excited for what lies ahead in the coming months. Torbett officially welcomed her 2016 edition back to campus Monday as the women attended a compliance meeting and had their first team dinner. Tuesday's schedule includes a conditioning test, sand workout and two training sessions.

ECU will conduct two practices per day leading up to the start of classes on Aug. 22 when the team will settle into its normal in-season schedule.

Torbett, who is just 22 victories away from 400 for her career and is the second winningest active head coach in the American Athletic Conference, will officially begin her fourth season in charge of the program when the Pirates take on Canisius Friday, Aug. 26, in their opening match of the Bucknell Invitational at Davis Gym in Lewisburg, Pa. ECU will also face off against Fairleigh Dickinson and the host Bison during the two-day event.

American Athletic Conference play kicks off Sept. 22 when East Carolina travels to Dallas, Texas for a contest against defending league champion SMU. The Pirates will play their first home AAC match Sept. 30 when UCF rolls into Greenville. ECU will play each conference school home and away in 2016.

With the absence of a conference tournament, the regular season champion receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Championship.

East Carolina returns three of its top four hitters from the 2015 season as well as four players who competed in at least 100 sets. The Pirates will also receive a boost from former ECU women's basketball standout I'Tiana Taylor, who is finishing her collegiate career with the volleyball program, and transfer outside hitter Lael Ceriani – the leading offensive producer for UT Martin a season ago.

Volleyball Opens Preseason Camp Amidst Heightened Expectations

Players Mentioned

Lael Ceriani

I'Tiana Taylor

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