PIRATES LOOK TO EXTEND WIN STREAK AGAINST COASTAL CAROLINA
TheEast
Carolinian
Freeboot Friday to return
Freeboot Friday will be returning to Greenville, NC on Friday Aug. 30. Freeboot Friday is a free family friendly event that takes place at Five Points Plaza (5th and Evans) the night before an ECU home football game from 5:30 to 8 p.m. This event includes live music and entertainment, activities for children, arts and crafts, food, adult beverages, vendors and more. The upcoming Freeboot Fridays are on Aug. 30, Sept. 13, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25, 2024.
This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.
East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine ranks among the top 15 medical schools in primary care across the country. ECU also stands as the sole medical school in North Carolina to be featured in the new ranking published by the U.S. News & World Report. According to Dr. Waldrum, the Dean of Brody School of Medicine and CEO of ECU Health, and Dr. Higginson, the Executive Dean of Brody School of Medicine, Brody has a 50-year history of training students from various backgrounds to serve all communities in North Carolina, especially the rural and underserved. The recent ranking from U.S. News & World Report as a top-tier medical school is just one example of the recognition the Brody School of Medicine has received. According to ECU News Services, this year, U.S. News ranked the medical schools based on each institution's score in research and primary care, a novel method of ranking institutions. There are four tiers in the ranking system, with Brody ranking as a Tier One Medical School in Primary Care, representing the highest ranked and highest overall performance. Brody is one of 15 schools across the nation to receive this recognition. Dylan Pressnell, a second year medical student at Brody, can attest to this ranking. “My experience at Brody has been absolutely amazing” said Pressnell, “While being a medical student is no easy feat that is accompanied with its own challenge, it is of no surprise to me that it is ranked so high.”
According to U.S. News and World Report, Brody consistently ranked highly in categories related to graduates practicing in health professional shortage areas (top 15% nationally), graduates practicing in primary care (top 16% nationally) and graduates practicing in rural areas (top 28% nationally). In each of these categories, Brody also ranked as the top public university in North Carolina. Pressnell attributes this success partly to the faculty at Brody. “The mission is beyond admirable, but the staff makes the difference" said Pressnell, “Faculty here know my name and my story; they are not just teaching instructors but a new family that has my best interest at heart. They spend their personal time after hours to help me accomplish academic success but also extracurricular aspirations, like enabling community service organizations that I am a part of. We are called the Brody Family for a reason.”
East Carolina football takes on Norfolk State
East Carolina University's (0-0, 0-0 American Athletic Conference) football team kicks off the season with a home-opener against Norfolk State University (0-1, 0-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday.
Coming off a 2-10 season last year, East Carolina’s coach Mike Houston will look to come out firing with a freshly re-loaded team that includes multiple coaching staff changes and roster additions. Norfolk State has a slight advantage in terms of preparation after they faced Florida A&M in week 0, which they ultimately lost.
While Norfolk State did lose their first game of the season, they have the pleasure of running through practices to correct their mistakes. The East Carolina Pirates will look to be on their toes from the jump, making sure a prepared team doesn’t get the best of them.
Coach Houston is putting his trust in starting quarterback Jake Garcia, the former University of Miami and University of Missouri QB. Garcia could have a big impact vs Norfolk State, who had to beat out Michigan State University transfer Katin Houser and redshirt freshman Raheim Jeter for the starting spot.
ECU's recruiting efforts focused on key posi tions, particularly on the offensive line and at quarterback, areas that were notably weak in the previous season. Jake Garcia brings a promising combination of athleticism and playmaking ability that the Pirates have been missing in the past couple of seasons. Coupled with a revamped offensive line, the new additions should provide the Pirates with better protection and more opportunities to execute their offense.
While the Pirates had a bright spot in their defense last year, they need to keep it rolling this season against Norfolk State who just brought in Jason Phillips as their new offensive coordinator. Phillips, who was previously Alcorn State University’s offensive coordinator for a few years, comes to Norfolk with a plan to bolster their offense this season. On the other side, Norfolk State is also striving to turn the page from a challenging 2023 season. The Spartans, with their 3-8 record last season, faced difficulties on both sides of the ball.
Trisha Rangaraju TEC STAFF
Staff Report
ABBY BRENNAN | THE EAST CAROLINIAN
Students gather together at Freeboot Friday at the Five Points Plaza in Downtown Greenville to watch a performance by Sean Kingston.
ABBY BRENNAN | THE EAST CAROLINIAN
Greenville, NC had a perfomance by Sean Kingston at the Freeboot Friday event that took place before the homecoming football game.
BRIEFS
ECU Finalist for Community Engagement Award
ECU was selected for its efforts in addressing high suicide rates and mental health needs that stem from causes such as; economic stress, family dynamics and other health conditions.
Support Grows for ECU’s Mission Donors have managed to contribute an amount estimated around 56.7 million in philanthropic support for East Carolina University in 20232024. 24.4 million was allocated for Main Campus Priorities, 19.9 million for ECU Athletics and 11.8 for health Sciences Priorities.
ECU names Dr. Luczkovich to Distinguished Professorship Luczkovich is the college’s 25th distinguished professor. The announcement was made at the 61st annual college convocation on Aug. 16. The appointment of Distinguished Professor is the highest honor within Harriot College, signifying a professor’s commitment to Knowledge and academic life by outstanding teaching and advising.
Downtown Greenville to host Art Walk
On Friday, September 6 from 5
p.m. to 8 p.m., discover exciting and new art exhibitions from artists and music performance including open mic events and other local galleries, music venues, museums and more of the talent that downtown Greenville has to offer.
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
If you feel there are any factual errors in this newspaper, please contact Jaylin Roberts at editor@theeastcarolinian.com.
CRIME LOGS
Editor's Note: The East Carolinian Crime Logs are derived from East Carolina University Police Department’s (ECU PD) public crime logs accessible to all individuals. Crime Logs are not done within the partnership of ECU PD and The East Carolinian, as this publication is meant to act as an additional resource for Pirate Nation. Below are listings of criminal activity that has occurred on or within proximity of main campus.
Aug. 22, 2024
Reported that there was a Fraud-Obtaining Property by False Pretense at The Jolly Roger on Aug. 13 at 11:17 a.m. This situation is an open investigation.
Aug. 23, 2024
A Simple Assault incident took place at Legacy Residence Hall at 12:20 a.m. This investigation is Closed, the Victim Refused to Cooperate.
A Fondling incident took place at Tyler Residence Hall and this situation ended up being a Campus Security Authority Report Only.
Larceny took place at Fletcher Residence Hall between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. and this situation is still considered an Open Investigation.
Aug. 24, 2024
At 12:02 a.m., charges of Possession of Marijuana
< ½ oz. and Possession of Paraphernalia took place at Jones Residence Hall and the prosecution was declined.
At 2:41 a.m., a Resist, Delay, or Obstruct, Disorderly Conduct and Underagae Drinking situation took place on 310 E. 10th Street and the incident was cleared by arrest.
Democratic National Convention recap
The Democratic National Convention was held last week starting on Monday, Aug. 19 and concluded on Thursday, Aug. 22 with the convention being held inside the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
The convention served the purpose of announcing the new democratic representative for president following current serving President Joe Biden announcement that he was withdrawing from the presidential race on Jul. 21 and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to become the presidential representative of the Democratic Party.
To officially announce Harris as the Democratic Representative, The DNC held their annual convention in Chicago. To open up day one of the convention, Permanent Chair of the DNC Minyon Moore took the stage to give an opening speech, beginning with a statement about how he had grown up watching the DNC on TV because his Grandfather was interested in watching it, despite Moore’s lack of interest. Moore, however, had his attention glued to the TV when civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson was on the stage.
“But folks, when Reverend Jesse Jackson came on, I paid attention. A black man from South Carolina raised by a single mother, that was me. And as long as I live, I will never forget what he said. He challenged young people to hope and to dream. So that’s exactly what I did.” Moore told the audience that included 20 million people watching at their homes.
President Biden had the closing speech on day 1, where he was surrenated with chants of “Thank you, Joe” when he had first reached the stage. The chants were in support of his decision to withdraw from the Presidential Nomination, which many in the media called the right move following concerns of his ability to win reelection.
Day two and day three found the likes of Senator Bernie Sanders, Governor JB Pritzker, former First Lady Michelle Obama and former President Barack Obama to close day two. For day three, Governor Josh Shapiro, speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi, former President Jimmy Carter all spoke before Vice President democratic nominee Tim Walz closed at the end.
For the fourth and final day, Harris closed the convention with a speech. Harris elected to bring up reproduction rights, her stance on Ukraine and her eagerness to get the war in Gaza to end. Another key point of Harris’s speech was when she mentioned that her campaign is focused on the middle class becoming stronger in the future as it continues to grow.
“We know a strong middle class has always been critical to America’s success, and building that middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency.” Harris said.
This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.
Greenville, NC hosts Dave Mirra memorial
Staff Report
On Aug. 25 Greenville and the Mirra family hosted a memorial for
Park from 5 to 7 p.m. The memorial included a statue unveiling, Dave Mirra raffle items, BMX riding session and food trucks. The permanent art piece is designed by Don Wignet
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland will keep in place protections against potential oil and gas development and mining claims on 28 million acres of federal land across Alaska, the federal government said Tuesday.
The lands were protected from such development in the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The Trump administration took steps to remove the protections, an effort supported by Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy and U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan. But the Biden administration said it found legal flaws in the previous administration’s effort, leading to a new environmental review to determine the best use of the lands.
Haaland signed the decision Friday, following an environmental review and public input. A new public land order will retain the protections.
“Continuing these essential protections, which have been in place for decades, will ensure continued access and use of these public lands
and Bian Lee and fabricated by local BMX pro Mike Laird.
This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.
now and in the future,” Haaland said in a statement from the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees the lands.
Dunleavy said on social media on Tuesday that the decision is “the latest sanction against Alaska by the Biden-Harris administration.”
“They are attempting to turn Alaska into one big national park,” Dunleavy said. “Alaska is still owed five million acres of land under the Statehood Act. Every one of these sanctions harms Alaska’s ability to prosper.”
Joe Plesha, communications director for Murkowski, said public land orders have become “political land orders” under the Biden administration.
”Alaskans have been completely railroaded as the BLM goes back on their own recommendation and commitment to return Alaska’s lands to federal multiple use status,” Plesha said.
The protected lands are spread across Alaska. They’re about the size of Pennsylvania, collectively. In Western Alaska, they’re in the western Interior, Seward Peninsula and Bristol
Bay regions. They’re also located in Southcentral Alaska and in eastern Alaska.
According to the Bureau of Land Management, the agency received 15,000 public comments for the draft review, overwhelmingly favoring the protections.
The environmental review found that revoking any of the protections would likely harm subsistence hunting and fishing in dozens of Alaska Native communities that would lose federal subsistence priority over certain lands, the agency said. Wildlife, vegetation and permafrost would also be negatively impacted, it found.
Conservation groups and some Alaska Native groups on Tuesday praised the decision. Among their concerns, they had asserted that unlocking some of the lands could have allowed an expansion of mining opportunities around the
Donlin Gold mine prospect near the middle Kuskokwim River.
Alex DeMarban TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
JAYLIN ROBERTS I THE EAST CAROLINIAN
Dave Mirra was a respected member of the Greenville BMX community. There is currently a statue to his memory located at Jaycee Park in Greenville, NC.
ROBERT GAUTHIER | TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Democratic National Convention Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago, IL.
Dave Mirra at Jaycee
Trevon McGlone TEC STAFF
OUR VIEW
The fall semester recently began on Aug. 19 bringing in new and returning students at East Carolina University. With the start of a new school year students are bound to be overwhelmed with stress as they get deeper into the school year.
We, the editorial staff of The East Carolinian believe that students’ number one focus should be to prioritize their mental health during the school year.
Even though academics is the reason students are here at ECU, many will not succeed in their studies without their mental health being prioritized. The way students feel will reflect in the work that they do in their classes. Once their mental health starts to decline they will soon after see the consequences of that in their schoolwork.
East Carolina University has many resources to make sure students have an outlet for their problems and a place to speak about their mental health. There are also many ways that students can learn to cope with stress and other factors that are affecting their everyday life. Students have to put in the work to utilize certain skills to help with their mental health.
Remember that it is okay to carve time outside of studies for wellness practices. For students it might feel like their world will end if they miss one assignment but it wont and if many don’t prioritize themselves sometimes all of the work they are putting into their academics won’t be worth it if many aren’t healthy in every aspect of their life.
During the fall semester students should pay attention to what their body needs and prioritize self care in their everyday routines.
PIRATE RANTS
The Fulcrum - Tribune News ServiceWhichever party wins independent voters will win the presidency and other key races this fall. A poll we at Unite America commissioned earlier this year provides clues for how Democrats and Republicans can appeal to these swing voters — including embracing their right to participate in all primary elections.
Nearly 90 percent of independent voters from closed primary states support opening primaries, and nearly 60% said they would be more likely to vote for a party that pledged to support their right to vote in primaries.
A new bipartisan bill in Congress gives the parties a golden opportunity to do just that. The Let America Vote Act would immediately end closed primaries for congressional and presidential elections, while also providing financial incentives to states that enfranchise independents in state and local primaries. Currently, 15 states have closed congressional primaries, and 22 states have closed presidential primaries.
If passed, the Let America Vote Act
would grant 23.5 million independent voters the same voting rights as registered Republicans and Democrats. According to Gallup’s most recent polling, a record high 51% of American adults identify as independents — more than the two major parties combined.
Simply providing lip service to a new bill is not enough, however. The two major parties must also understand why a rapidly growing share of voters choose to be independent in the first place. According to our first-of-its-kind report and poll of independents from closed primary states, there are four key reasons they do not affiliate with either party.
1. Independent voters are “independent thinkers”
Seventy percent said they “prefer to assess each candidate individually, rather than by their party affiliation,” while 68% said they “think for myself, independent of what parties and candidates tell me to think.”
In response to an open-ended question,
a 68-year-old man from Nevada echoed this sentiment: “I’m an independent thinker and willing to vote for anyone who reflects my beliefs.”
2. Independents’ policy preferences do not align with the Democratic or Republican platforms
When asked which party they trust more to handle the pressing issues facing the country, independents were split. At least 60% placed more trust in the Republicans to handle immigration, the economy, and public safety, while the same share favored the Democrats on health care, abortion and climate issues.
To illustrate how independents’ beliefs are split between the parties, consider this comment from a 79-year-old woman from Idaho: “Two main issues motivate me — 1. gun rights. 2. reproductive freedom. Neither party promotes both.”
Don’t travel down 10th Street during the weekday if you’re in a hurry. That crosswalk of students will keep you waiting and waiting and waiting. But, be sure to stop and wait there and at the one on Cotanche near the Rec center. It’s the law! And, it keeps pedestrians safe.
WE ARE SOOOOOO BACK PIRATES
I hate it when george bush takes pencils out of a swimming pool. I find it upsetting and downright disturbing that I can’t get my way when I want to. All I am asking for is that he takes a lasko fan that I may warm my room with. In conclusion I hate people under 4’11 and I want to have a robot hand
Bruh everytime i order from the robot my order is always wrong
West End Dining keeps getting worse. Slow, long lines, cold food. Usually out of something (food, tea, silverware)
I heard there was a naked person on one of the ECU transit buses???
Why is the sushi on campus like $11 on campus? It’s too expensive
New York Daily News - Tribune News Service - We are very glad, as Gov. Kathy Hochul announced yesterday, that provisional CDC data shows that NYC opioid overdose deaths fell 3.1% for the year ending in March 2024 and declined 9% in the rest of the state, as she listed some of the steps being taken to slow this scourge.
However, missing from the list is the most effective way to save lives: Giving addicts a safe place to take their drugs just in case they OD.
You can’t really police away or disincentivize people from overdosing. To some extent, they can’t help it; many don’t even want to continue abusing substances but cannot stop, burdened by a mix of psychological and chemical dependence.
Simply punishing them or trying to push them away from using drugs in certain sites just means they’ll end up doing so elsewhere, perhaps where they’re further from prying eyes and more likely to die.
Heroin or crack addicts aren’t thinking about the potential ramifications and future criminal consequences of their conduct; they’re often thinking just as far ahead as that next hit.
This doesn’t mean that we should excuse or condone open drug abuse, but it does mean that the heavyhanded approach just doesn’t really work and often backfires. Instead, we should focus on providing pathways out of this cycle, which many of those afflicted will take if they’re readily available.
Among the most important first steps
is just keeping people alive. You cannot receive treatment to turn your life around if you’re dead. Overdoses can be fatal, yet are almost invariably reversible if caught and counteracted quickly enough. This simple premise undergirds the establishment of overdose prevention centers, like the two OnPoint centers that have been chugging along for years in Upper Manhattan. They’ve seen hundreds of overdoses reversed and zero deaths, along with clients directed to in-house treatment and recovery services, all under one roof. This painstaking labor requires and deserves support and funding, and they should receive it without delay.
©2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
©2024 The Fulcrum. Visit at thefulcrum.us. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Classifieds & Puzzles
Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 9 — Romance, love and passion flower naturally over the next month, with Venus in Libra. Your artistry and creativity surges. Discover extraordinary beauty.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Fill your home with love. Beautification projects are especially satisfying, with Venus in Libra. Get creative. Have fun with color, texture and lighting.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Listen with heart. Indulge your artistic creativity, with Venus in Libra this month. Satisfy your insatiable curiosity. Write, craft and sketch. Record your ideas.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 9 — Demand increases for your work. The next month can get especially profitable, with Venus in Libra. Make connections of heart and contribution. Beauty inspires.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Dress for success. You’re especially charismatic, beautiful and attractive, with Venus in your sign for the next month. Try a new haircut or style.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Create and invent. Dream up inspiring visions, with Venus in Libra for a month. Revel in peace and quiet. Get lost in beauty.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Teamwork leads to victory. You’re especially popular, with Venus in Libra. Connect with friends and allies. Enjoy the public spotlight over the next month.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Take charge. Infuse your work with love. Create beautiful results, with Venus in Libra. Develop interesting opportunities. Advance your agenda for passion and profit.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Discover amazing beauty and treasures, with Venus in Libra for a month. Explore, study and discover new frontiers. Investigate fascinating subjects. Solve curious puzzles.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Contribute to rising profit with your partner over the next month. Increase your shared assets, with Venus in Libra. Work together for common gain.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Share support. Nurture each other with kindness. Collaboration flows with ease, with Venus in Libra for a month. Love feeds your heart and spirit.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Your work’s in demand, with Venus in Libra. Infuse it with love. Physical action gets results. Express your heart. Nurture yourself with soul food.
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews
Arts & Entertainment
EVENTS TODAY
and Taproom
W 5th St, Greenville, NC 27858
6 to 9 p.m.
(252) 364 - 8921
TOMORROW
Ryan Alligood
S Pitt St., Greenville, NC 27834
7 to 10 p.m.
(252) 227 - 4151
S. Rudolph Performing Arts presents The Alexander Series
Report
8 to 10 p.m. (252 689 - 6487
SATURDAY
8 to 10 p.m. (252) 999 - 5444 Underground Presents
Disney
650 E Fire Tower Rd, Winterville, NC 28590
8 to 11 p.m. (252) 689 - 6455
The Alexander Series is in its 64th season and will be presented by S. Rudolph Performing Arts. This series will be presenting artists from all over in two distinct series, The Fletcher Series and The Wright Series. The purpose of this series is to continue a tradition of presenting the best performing arts touring attractions available for East Carolina University students.
The Fletcher series will host the first three fall performances of the season in the ideal acoustics provided by A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall. The Wright Series will host three more large-scale spring performances in the Wright Auditorium.
The full season passes include $180 for the public ($60 off six shows), $140 for faculty and staff ($40 off six shows) and $5o for students ($10 off six shows). More information can be found at artscomm.ecu.edu/alexander-series.
This writer can be contacted at arts@theeastcarolinian.com.
Series
Recital
The Wright Series in Wright Auditorium 7:30 p.m.
Trailblazing Women of Country Saturday Feb. 22, 2025 A Tribute to Patsy, Loretta and Dolly
York Theater Ballet
Mar. 22, 2025 Emerging Ballet
Sports
TEC spertZ'
The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events
Trevon McGlone TEC Sports Editor
NSU VS. ECU Score Prediction?
ECU 37-10 Why? Norfolk State’s senior QB is suspended for this game, so they’ll be relying on quarterback Jalen Daniels in his second ever career start in a hostile environment. He showed flashes against Florida A&M but ECU is the first FBS school he’s going against. I think for the home opener, they’ll be locked in.
Cannon Gates WZMB Station Manager
NSU VS. ECU Score Prediction?
ECU 45-10
Why? 3 words: John David Baker. With him and this whole new offensive scheme I expect big things for the Pirates this season but I am not expecting a big first half as I think we will only be up by 10 after the first half. The boys will come out firing in the second half and run away with this one and Dowdy will be fired up!
Pirates look for win against Costal Carolina
The East Carolina soccer team (2-0-1, 0-0 American Athletic Conference) has had a successful start to the season. They are set to play against Coastal Carolina University (0-2-1, 0-0 Sun Belt Conference) for their third home game of the season.
The Pirates played their first game against North Carolina State University (1-2-1, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference). This was the first time since 2010 that the Pirates beat the Wolfpack, with the last time they faced each other was in 2019.
Senior midfielder Abby Sowa would score late in the first half in the 37th minute, making her fourth career goal. Some other notable players of the game would be ECU graduate student forward Annabelle Abbott, senior defender Abby Sowa and freshman forward Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram. This would secure the game for ECU against the Wolfpack.
The Pirate’s second game of the season
was a match-up against the University of North Carolina Greensboro ( 0-1-1, 0-0 Southern Conference). This was a competitive match, but ECU won the game 2-1.
The game would open with the Spartans scoring the first goal of the game in the 11th minute. The Pirates would tie the score later in the half in the 29th minute. Sydney Schnell, the graduate student midfielder, would put the first goal for the Pirates with an assist by junior forward Juliana Viera.
In the second half, ECU would take the lead at the 76th minute. ECU junior forward Emma Sheehan would score the second goal of the game with the help of junior midfielder Isabella Gutierrez. This would secure the victory and extend the winning streak for the Pirates. This was the first time since 2016 that ECU has beaten UNCG at Johnson Stadium.
In the Pirate’s latest match, they would face off against Campbell University (1-12, 0-0 Big South Conference). Though the match-up would end in a tie, the Pirates have defeated Campbell in every game since 2012.
Hampton Inn Classic starts ECU Volleyball
Ashleigh Cash TEC STAFF
East Carolina University’s volleyball team prepares to kick off their season Friday, August 30 at the Hampton Inn and Suites Seahawk Classic in Wilmington, North Carolina.
The tournament is hosted by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, who will welcome Queens University and Loyola University Maryland, as well as ECU.
ECU has the opening game of the tournament against Queens before playing a second game on Friday vs host UNCW. The Pirates close out the tournament on Saturday, August 31 with a closing match against Loyola University Maryland.
The Pirates unofficially kicked off their season Saturday, August 24 with an exhibition match against Elon University, taking the match in three sets. UNCW took their exhibition match against University of North Carolina at Pembroke in the same fashion.
The Lady Pirates are coming off a 2023 season in which they went 21-11, going 11-8 in conference action. They earned a postseason bid for the first time in program history, hosting the first and second rounds of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. They picked up their first ever postseason victory, as well as securing the team’s first 20-win season since 2017.
Junior outside hitter Angeles Alderete was recently tabbed the American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year, and was named to the preseason all-conference team for the second straight season. She’s the first player in program history to receive the honor,
This game would be ECU’s annual Morgan’s Message game.
According to their website, Morgan’s Message is an organization that helps spread awareness to student-athletes and their mental health. ECU senior midfielder Molly Thomas and ECU graduate student forward Sydney Schnell are both ambassadors for the organization.
Even with the game resulting in a tie the Pirates would still represent themselves well. ECU Freshman goalkeeper Kayce Taylor would save the only shot Campbell had on target. The Pirates would have a total of 19 shots with five on target.
Coastal Carolina University is riding a two-game losing streak heading into the matchup against the Pirates. The game is scheduled for this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. This home game will honor international students. For those who can not make the game, it will be streamed on ESPN+.
coming two seasons after being named the Freshman of the Year in 2022. In 2023, Alderete led the squad in kills, kills per set, total digs, points, and points per set. She ranked second in service aces and digs per set. Tipoff for the tournament is set for 11 AM at Hanover Hall. The game against UNCW will stream on FloSports.
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
FOOTBALL continued from A1
On the other side, Norfolk State is also striving to turn the page from a challenging 2023 season. The Spartans, with their 3-8 record last season, faced difficulties on both sides of the ball. Their focus this season is on building a more competitive squad, particularly building on their offensive and defensive schemes.
Norfolk State QB Otto Kuhns won’t be available for play as he was just recently sus pended for the first 4 games of the season by the NCAA. Kuhns, who has been Norfolk’s starting QB for the last 2 seasons, was the expected starter. While the reason for the suspension remains unclear, Garden City University transfer Jalen Daniels will start in his place against the Pirates.
As East Carolina and Norfolk State pre pare to face each other for the first time, this matchup holds a unique significance given their lack of prior history. The two teams have never met on the gridiron, making their upcoming game intriguing. The lack of previous matchups add an extra layer of excitement and unpredictability.
For ECU, the game is a crucial oppor tunity to showcase their offseason efforts. With East Carolina having home-field advantage, expect the crowd to be rowdy in
Diego Lerma TEC STAFF
Dowdy-Ficklen on Saturday after revamping their team over the off-season. Coach Houston will look to have the Pirates ready to start
COURTESY OF ECU PIRATES
East Carolina University’s graduate student forward Sydney Schnell goes to take the ball from Campbell University’s midfielder Kendall Lincoln.
COURTESY OF ECU PIRATES ECU senior Libero Kenzie Becckham celebrates with her teammates
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.