East Carolina’s volleyball team was picked to finish fourth in the American Conference. Three Pirates were chosen to the conference’s preseason teams, too.
Below are more details from ECU Sports Information.
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East Carolina junior outside hitter Ellie Pate, junior middle blocker Kai Bailey and sophomore setter Taryn Gilreath were named to the American Preseason All-Conference Team as the league announced its preseason team and coaches’ poll Tuesday morning.
The trio’s preseason designation marks the first time in the program’s American Conference era that three Pirates have been named preseason all-conference in the same season.
The Pirates were also picked to finish fourth in the American Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll, garnering 106 points behind preseason favorite Rice (141 points), South Florida (136 points) and Wichita State (120 points). East Carolina is coming off a 19-10 season in 2024 and an 11-5 mark in American play. The team also earned a postseason bid for the second straight season and for the second time in program history, hosting the first and second rounds of the NIVC.
Pate led the Pirates in kills (292) and kills per set (2.78) while adding 136 digs in 29 matches played. The Auburn, Ala. Native led the team in kills in 14 matches and was named to the American’s Weekly Honor Roll on Nov. 4. She recorded a career-high 18 digs in ECU’s NIVC match against UConn (Dec. 6) while tallying a personal best 20 kills in ECU’s five-set win over North Texas (Oct. 6).
Bailey arrives in Greenville after spending her first two seasons at UTSA where she finished second on the team in total blocks with 95 and added 172 kills in 26 matches played as a sophomore in 2024. The Atlanta, Ga. native was named the American Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 18 after registering 13 blocks and 21 kills at a .386 clip in wins over Tulsa and Wichita State. She finished fifth in the American in total blocks per set.
Gilreath is coming off an American All-Freshman Team season in 2024 as she finished second on the Pirates in assists and assists per set at 353 and 3.71, respectively. The Cypress, Texas native recorded her first career double-double with 24 assists and 12 digs in ECU’s win over North Texas (Oct. 6). She tallied a career-high 28 assists at Florida Atlantic (Sept. 27) and recorded double-digit assists in 18 matches, including eight matches with 20 or more assists.
East Carolina opens the 2025 season Aug. 29-30 when the Pirates battle Maryland Eastern Shore, Florida A&M and host Hampton in the Hampton Tournament in Hampton, Va.
2025 American Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll
- Rice (9) 141
- South Florida (4) 136
- Wichita State 120
- East Carolina 106
- Florida Atlantic 100
- Tulsa 91
- UAB 63
- Tulane 62
- UTSA 46
- Temple 43
- Charlotte 39
13. Memphis 28
(#) – denotes first-place votes
2025 Preseason Player of the Year
Maria Clara Andrade, Sr., OH, South Florida
2025 Preseason All-Conference Team
Jorda Crook, Jr., OPP, UAB*
Kristen Birmingham, Charlotte
Kai Bailey, Jr., MB, East Carolina
Taryn Gilreath, So., S, East Carolina
Ellie Pate, Jr., OH, East Carolina
Victoria Hensley, Sr., S, Florida Atlantic
Ryann Vik, So., MB, North Texas
Lademi Ogunlana, Sr., MB, Rice
Taylor Preston, Sr., OH, Rice
Savannah Skopal, So., S, Rice
Cindy Tchouangwa, Jr., OH, Rice
Ally Cavanaugh, R-So., OH, South Florida
Maria Clara Andrade, Sr., OH, South Florida*
Avery Burks, Jr., OH, Tulane
Brayden Hipp, Sr., S, Tulsa
Brooklyn Leggett, R-Sr., RS/OH, Wichita State
* unanimous selection