By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The best stretch of Friday's season opener put Bethune-Cookman within one point of a competitive match with Charlotte.

Three Lady Cat errors on the next four points allowed the 49ers to regain control with a second set victory and symbolized how B-CU's day went in a 3-0 loss (25-15,25-22,25-10) loss at the East Carolina Classic.

B-CU had more errors (27) than kills (21) to produce a loss in which the result was less disappointing than the performance.

"A lot of unforced errors," said B-CU coach Isaac Raphael. "We have to settle down and clean that up. We're not passing the ball well right now. We'll get better."

Senior Krysta Gardner led B-CU with seven kills, but B-CU's freshmen - paced by a stout six-kill, three-block effort from Delicia Pierre - had the better day. Raphael had four newcomers on the court for long stretches and even five at one point.

"The leadership has to start from the upperclassmen," Raphael said. "I can deal with freshmen errors, but the upperclassmen have to lead by playing fundamentally sound. They didn't do that today.

B-CU trailed Charlotte 19-12 in the second set, but closed to 22-21 on service runs by freshmen Destiny Hudson and Jasmine Evans before the 49ers capitalized on three errors to close the set.

Aubrianna Curtis gave a quick 3-0 lead to start the match.  After Charlotte took a 14-10 lead, Janeen Davis closed the Lady Cats to 14-13 before the 49ers pulled away.

Jennifer Jimenez had 11 digs while Monica Lowe 10 assists for B-CU.

"We have a good team, one that needs to come together," Raphael said. "And we'll get better. I'm not that worried."

B-CU returns to action Saturday against host East Carolina at 1 p.m.