During her four years at East Carolina, Hannah Priest excelled in the classroom just as she did on the tennis courts.

Priest was recently named to the Conference-USA All-Academic Team for the second year in a row. The daughter of Tim and Carol Priest of Carthage compiled a GPA of 3.98.

A physical education major, she made the Dean's List and the East Carolina Athletic Director's Honor Roll. She also served on the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

As a tennis player, Priest helped lead the Pirates to a record of 16-5. She was 9-2 in singles and 8-6 in doubles as a senior.

At Union Pines, the 2004 graduate compiled an overall record of 111-11, missing her senior year because of a knee injury. She won three conference and two regional singles titles.

Her brother, Aaron, a 2001 grad, won 140 matches under Viking coach John Frye. He is currently studying in Paris.

Maness on Clemens List

East Carolina pitcher Seth Maness will be seeking his 10th victory of the season during the Conference-USA baseball tournament that begins today in New Orleans.

One of the top freshman pitchers in the country, the 2007 Pinecrest graduate is 9-1 for the 39-17 Pirates that were ranked 28th in the nation in this week's National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Poll.

The Pirates were scheduled to meet Houston this morning in the double-elimination event that could determine whether the Greenville school earns a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Last Thursday, Maness came within one out of a complete game shutout, pitching the Pirates to an 8-1 win over Memphis. The right-hander did not allow an earned run while scattering five hits, striking out eight and walking one. He became the second ECU freshman to win as many as nine games in a season.

The Pirates have won 12 of the 13 games Maness has started. In 84 innings, he has allowed 78 hits, striking out 78 batters and walking 17. His ERA is 2.79.

An all-state pitcher at Pinecrest, Maness is the son of Mike Maness and Jan Benton. Earlier this month, he was named to the Watch List for the Roger Clemens Award that honors the finest pitchers in college baseball.