Mount Olive took the opening set against tournament host Francis Marion, but was unable to hold on as the Trojans fell 20-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14 in the final day of the FMU Women's Volleyball Invitational Saturday at Florence, S.C. Dezirae Mackey recorded nine kills and a match-high seven blocks for Mount Olive, while Lauren Lee added nine kills and 17 digs.

Mount Olive (0-4) scored the first four points of the match and built a 20-10 lead in the opening set after Nicole Karas' service ace highlighted a 6-1 run. Francis Marion (3-1) got as close as four points, but Danielle Plante's kill on set point gave the Trojans a one-set lead.

In the second set, Francis Marion broke away from a 15-15 tie and built a 21-17 lead. A block by Mackey and setter Elyse Keating helped pull the Trojans within 23-21, but the Patriots scored the final two points to even the match at a set apiece.

Lee's kill broke a 6-6 tie in the third set before Francis Marion scored six of the next seven points to take the lead for good. The Patriots built the lead to as many as eight points and Mount Olive never got any closer than 22-18.

Francis Marion capitalized on Trojan errors to take a 16-5 lead in the fourth set and the margin never fell below nine points the rest of the way.

Keating recorded a collegiate-high 31 assists, while Nicole Sparks had 20 digs and Karas added 15 digs.

Francis Marion was led by Emily Shears with a match-high 19 kills.

In its final match of the tournament, Mount Olive took unbeaten Newberry to the wire in the first two sets before falling 25-22, 25-23, 25-16. Alysha Tyms-Burnett led the Trojans with six kills, while Mackey and Montgomery Register added five kills apiece. Mackey also led all players with five blocks.

Mount Olive trailed by as many as four points late in the first set before Plante's kill helped pull the Trojans within 23-22. But a kill and an ace on the final two points gave Newberry the first set.

The Trojans had to play catch-up again in the second set after falling behind 14-8. Keating sparked a Trojan rally with a pair of kills and an assist during a 4-1 run to put Mount Olive on top 18-17. But Newberry regained the lead and held on to take a two-set advantage.

Mount Olive was within 14-12 in the third set before Newberry ended the set on an 11-4 run.

The Trojans are idle during the week, then play host to the 2013 Mount Olive College Invitational Friday and Saturday at Kornegay Arena. Three of the eight NCAA Division II regions will be represented as Southeast Region members Mount Olive and Armstrong (Ga.) will be joined by Alabama-Huntsville of the South Region and Mary (N.D.) of the Midwest Region. Each team will play one match Friday and two matches Saturday. Friday's match times are 4 and 6 p.m., while Saturday's play begins at 10 a.m. with the final match slated for 4 p.m.

Mount Olive will face Alabama-Huntsville Friday at 4 p.m., then play Armstrong Saturday at 2 p.m. and Mary at 4 p.m.