GREENVILLE, N.C. --Lamar's Erica Brown tallied a match-high 28 kills while Molli Abel added 10 kills as the Lady Cardinals claimed the City Hotel & Bistro Pirate Invitational by defeating host East Carolina, 25-30, 30-23, 31-29, 30-18, in the final match of the tournament in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum Saturday night. Erica Wilson led four ECU players in double figures with 16 kills. Paige Howell had 15 kills while Jaime Bevan and Pam Ferris eached had 14 kills.

Howell was the only ECU player named to the all-tournament team. She finished the tournament with 64 kills in four matches and had 12 blocks. Brown was named the tournament most valuable player. East Carolina won the first game of the match, 30-26, after hitting .348. Lamar out-hit the Pirates, .296-.075, to tie the match, 1-1. ECU held a 29-27 lead late in game three before the Cardinals tied it, 29-29. Lamar put down the final two points taking a 2-1 lead. Lamar outhit ECU, .258-.077 in the final game to take the match. Mercer took second place in the tournament.

EASTCAROLINA DEFEATED MERCER, 30-26, 28-30, 30-20, 30-25
Junior middle blocker Paige Howell recorded a career-high 24 kills to lead five East Carolina players in double-figures as the Lady Pirates (3-1) defeated Mercer in four games, 30-26, 28-30, 30-25. Jaime Bevan added 15 kills and Erica Wilson had 14 kills. Sophomore setter Heidi Krug finished with a double-double tallying 58 set assists and a career-high 19 digs. Kelley Wernert and Pam Ferris each had 10 kills. Katie Plummer led Mercer with 22 kills while Julie Darty had 13 kills.

FURMAN DEFEATED HIGH POINT, 30-26, 31-29,30-26
Furman's Whitney Purser put down a match-high 15 kills and Chibuzo Aguocha added 14 kills as the Lady Paladins won their second straight match of the Pirate Invitational Saturday morning. Julia Fredrickson finished with 13 kills for Furman. Jamie Kaufman led High Point with 11 kills while Lindsey Pickens had 10 kills.

LAMAR DEFEATED HIGH POINT, 30-24, 30-25, 30-27
Molli Abel had a match-high 18 kills to lead Lamar by High Point in match eight of the Pirate Invitational. Lamar out-hit the Lady Panthers .242-.189. Jamie Kaufman and Lindsey Pickens each had 13 kills for High Point (1-4) who finished the tournament, 1-3.

MERCER DEFEATED FURMAN, 30-28, 30-19, 30-22
Mercer's Katie Palmer led four Lady Bears in double-figures and posted a double-double by adding 10 digs as the Lady Bears swept through Furman in three games. Jen Smith added 12 kills and Julie Darty had 11 kills for the Lady Bears. Julia Fredrickson led Furman with 14 kills and Chibuzo Aguocha added 11 kills. Mercer out-hit Furman, .289-.103 in the match.

CITY HOTEL & BISTRO PIRATE INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Paige Howell, East Carolina
Chibuzo Aguocha, Furman
Catie Clemons, Mercer
Julie Darty, Mercer
Chelsea Johnson, Lamar
Ashley Hallagin, Lamar
Erica Brown, Lamar (MVP)