Eastern Michigan defeated both Sam Houston and Marist Saturday afternoon to sweep undefeated through the Comfort Suites Sam Houston Invitational and take the tournament first place trophy home to Ypsilanti, Michigan.

The Bearkats place third after falling to Louisiana-Lafayette in a five-set thriller, the second year in a row the Kats and the Ragin' Cajuns have ended the Comfort Suites tournament in a five-setter.

Down two sets to none, the Bearkats came roaring back to win the third and fourth sets and were up 12-7 in the fifth frame. But the Cajuns prevailed for a 27-25 25-23 21-25 18-25 16-14 victory.

Sam Houston's Carli Kolbe and Kaylee Hawkins were selected to the all-tournament team.

Rachel Iaquaniello of champion EMU was the tournament MVP. Other members of the all-tournament squad were Ashley Mason (EMU), Grace Hill (Marist) and Lesley Mirarchi and Mandi Gavin (La-Lafayette).

In the morning contest, Eastern Michigan fought off a determined Sam Houston in a 62-point second set on the way to a 25-15 32-30 25-15 victory over the Bearkats.

Rachel Iaquaniello and Paige Roback led EMU with 15 and 12 kills, respectively. Carli Kolbe was the Kats' top scorer with 10 kills.

Down one set, Sam Houston had three chances to even the match at a set apiece serving with lead of 25-24 26-25 and 29-28 but the Eagles had an answer every time.

Sam Houston's front line came up with nine blocks with Kim Black taking part in six and Kelli Stewart four. EMU played almost error-free ball with only 18 miscues in 121 attempts for a .240 team hitting percentage on the way to victory.

In other action Saturday:

MATCH SIX
MARIST def. PRAIRIE VIEW 20-25 25-21 27-25 25-17

The Red Foxes rallied from a 21-12 deficit in the third set that would have put Marist down two sets to one down to rally for a four-set victory in the opening match of day two.

Grace Hill posted 13 kills and five blocks to led Marist to its first victory in three matches in the event. Cheri Lindsey and Sharonda Marshall led Prairie View with 15 and 13 kills, respectively.

The match was tied 17 times with six lead changes in the first three sets, but the Red Foxes led from wire to wire in the final frame. Prairie View dropped to 0-3 with the loss.

MATCH EIGHT
LA-LAFAYETTE def. PRAIRIE VIEW 25-20 25-20 25-15

Blair Claypoole posted 10 kills as Louisiana-Lafayette defeated Prairie View in three sets to send the Panthers home winless in the Comfort Suites Invitational.

Cheri Lindsey led Prairie View with 10 kills. The match was tied 12 times, but the Cajuns kept the game well in hand totaling 36 kills in 109 attempts for a team .165 hitting percentage.

MATCH 9
EASTERN MICHIGAN def. MARIST 25-16 25-20 25-18
Rachel Iaquaniello powered 14 kills in 28 attempts as the Eagles wrapped up the tournament title with a three-set win over Marist.

EMU totaled 46 kills in 99 attempts with only 16 errors for a .303 team hitting percentage. Marist, which finished fourth in the event with a 1-3 record, was led by Grace Hill with eight kills.

The complete Comfort Suites SHSU Volleyball Invitational schedule:

All 10 matches of the Comfort Suites SHSU Invitational will be streamed live on www.gobearkats.com. You must purchase the monthly video subscription for $7.95 to watch.

Tickets to Sam Houston volleyball matches at Johnson Coliseum at $5 for adults and $3 for youth. Sam Houston students are admitted free with presentation of their Bearkat One card.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.gobearkats.com or fans may visit the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.