GREENVILLE, N.C. – Malina Spencer put down six kills Friday night to lead Bethune-Cookman Volleyball against homestanding East Carolina, as the Wildcats fell by a score of 3-0 in the nightcap of the Pirate Invitational taking place inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. The Cats fell by a line score of 25-14, 25-9, 25-14.
 
Malina Spencer, a 6-foot-2, redshirt senior from Kissimmee, Florida, registered a team-high six kills for Bethune-Cookman (0-5) in what was the second of two matches played on the day for the Maroon and Gold. BCU fell short in its opener against Appalachian State by 3-0 decision.
 
Spencer recorded four of her six kills for the match in the opening set, as BCU trailed 8-6 early-on following a service ace from redshirt senior Madison Coates (Oviedo, Fla.). However, East Carolina (5-0) got stellar play down the stretch from Ellie Pate and Farah Farooq – the duo combining for nine kills in the frame, joined by the likes of Izzy Marinelli with three kills of her own, as the Pirates claimed the opener, 25-14.
 
It was BCU redshirt junior outside hitter Elizabeth Phillips (Noblesville, Ind.) pouring in two kills on nine swings in the second set, aided by four assists from starting setter and All-SWAC Preseason selection Alisha Callender (Dorado, P.R.). Marinelli countered for the Pirates, producing four kills on just five swings for an .800 hitting mark in helping her side to the 25-9 set decision.
 
In the third frame, Bethune-Cookman was limited to a negative hitting percentage (-.080), as the Wildcats amassed just three kills on 25 swings – adding five errors. Sydni Poston (Chicago, Ill.), a freshman defensive specialist, served up an ace, while Callender and sophomore defensive specialist Rylee Davis (San Antonio, Texas) each picked up three digs in a defensive display for the Cats.
 
But it would be the host Pirates hitting .371 in the third frame en route to the 25-14 closeout win.
 
ECU was led on the night by Marinelli and Miami native Angeles Alderete with seven kills each. Alderete added nine digs and a block assist for the Pirates in an all-around effort. Setter Julianna Askew provided a match-high 20 assists. And it was fellow setter Payton Evenstad posting 14 assists, while Farooq claimed a pair of assisted blocks alongside teammate Francesca McBride.
 
Spencer led all Wildcats with her six kills in the match, as she would go on to put down an assisted block and pick up a dig in defense. Callender led all BCU players with six digs, followed closely by Poston and Davis with five digs each, respectively.
 
Callender also amassed 11 assists on the night.
 
BCU closes out its stint in this year's edition of the Pirate Invitational on Saturday when the Cats take on the Campbell Camels back inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum beginning at 11 a.m.
 
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