GREENVILLE, N.C., OCT. 10, 2014 - Three kills was all USF volleyball junior outside hitter Erin Fairs needed to reach 1,000 Friday, and she got that and more as the Bulls faced off with one of their new conference foes.

Fairs recorded nine kills and 16 digs to push past the 1,000-kill threshold and inch toward the all-time top ten list in digs as the Bulls (8-10 overall, 2-4 The American) were edged by East Carolina at ECU, becoming just the eighth player in USF history to eclipse the 1,000-kill mark as well as the 1,000-dig plateau.

USF started slow in its first road match since September, but turned around hard after losing the first set to pick up its most decisive win of any set this season in the second. Hitting errors and passing plagued the Bulls in the final two sets however, as the Pirates used an aggressive serving game and a strong block to send USF to its second road loss of the conference season, 18-25, 25-7, 20-25, 21-25.

Freshman middle blocker Brittany Kelly ripped home three kills and two blocks to jumpstart the Bulls' offense in the second set, as USF rattled off 12 of the first 13 points to immediately take control after losing set one. Allowing 19 kills to ECU in the first set, USF held the Pirates to just four in the second to buckle down defensively while revving up the offense. USF's 11 kills without an error gave the Bulls an outstanding .579 hitting percentage, while five blocks helped force ECU to hit -.222 in the 25-7 blowout.

Senior right side hitter Bree Scarbrough got hot in the second set, and rode the wave throughout the match, hitting a team-high .467 as she knocked down eight kills while committing just one error in the match. Scarbrough also contributed six digs and three blocks, as USF out-blocked ECU 10-8.

Senior middle blocker Jennica Mullins had a hand in seven of those blocks, registering two solo blocks and five block assists to lead the front line for the Bulls.

Offensively, Fairs' nine kills tied sophomore Dakota Hampton for a team-best. Junior setter Natalia Soares nailed down her third double-double of the year, recording 12 assists and a season-high 12 digs.

USF returns to action next Friday, facing Cincinnati on the road.