Nov. 9, 2002

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Freshman outside Nancy Nellans (South Bend, Ind./St. Josephs) dropped 20 kills on a Conference USA opponent for the fifth time in her young career in a 3-1 win over East Carolina (6-24, 0-11 C-USA) in The University of Memphis' (18-10, 4-7 C-USA) home finale, Saturday.

Nellans, who struggled against Charlotte last night, downing just one kill and hitting negative, powered Memphis to a comeback win in game three. The Pirates from ECU had game point, 29-27, but Nellans continued to pound away on the outside, downing eight kills with no errors on 11 attacks for a .727 hitting percentage. Nellans hit .349 for the match, adding two service aces, four digs and two blocks in the Tigers' second straight C-USA win.

Following senior night festivities prior to the game, both teams came out energized with something to prove. ECU was looking for its first league win of the season, while Memphis was trying to send senior Brooke Chrisman (Katy, Texas/James E Taylor HS) off with a victory. The first game knotted early and often as ECU's Sarah Vick (Arlington, Texas/James Martin) downed five of her 17 kills in game one to keep the Pirates within range of the Tigers. But Memphis committed two fewer attack errors and two fewer service errors, giving them a 30-25 game one win.

ECU battled back with a 30-28 game two win as Vick and Robyn Drewes (Weston, Fla./Weston) each downed four kills in the second game, helping the Pirates hit .229 as a team while Memphis struggled and hit .079 with 10 attack errors against just 13 kills.

After Nellans powered Memphis to a 31-29 game three win, Memphis seized the momentum for good, hitting .342 in the fourth game, a 30-23 win.

Junior Brittany Barnett (Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands) added 17 kills and two service aces in the win while Shella Neba (Aurora, Colo./St. Mary's) contributed 10 kills and six total blocks. Senior Brooke Chrisman, playing in her last home match, had six kills, including the last one that sealed the match for Memphis.

Sarah Vick and Drewes each had 17 kills for the Pirates, while Alexis Jones added 10 in the ECU loss. Johanna Bertini led all players with a game-high 16 digs, while Jessica Vick (Arlington, Texas/James Martin) led the Pirates with 31 assists.

Memphis, which completed its home season with a 10-5 overall record, has two remaining C-USA matches on its schedule. The Tigers will travel to Tulane, Friday, to face the Green Wave, and will play Southern Miss at 7 p.m., Saturday. East Carolina returns home to host TCU and Houston in its regular season finale.