DANBURY, Conn. – Plymouth State University was eliminated from the Little East Conference Women’s Volleyball Tournament Saturday afternoon in a tough five-game marathon match against Eastern Connecticut State University, 3-2.
Third-seeded ECSU, 22-14, advances to the LEC Championship match on Sunday against top-seeded Western Connecticut, which defeated fourth-seeded Keene State in five games in Saturday’s second semifinal. The second-seeded Panthers, who had defeated the Warriors in three games during the regular season, drop to 25-10.
Plymouth State took the opening game, 30-28, but the Warriors came back to even things up with a 30-23 decision in game two. PSU regained the lead with a 30-18 win in the middle game, but again Eastern responded with a 30-27 victory to send the match to a decisive fifth game.
A regulation game to 15 wasn’t enough, as Eastern outlasted PSU in the final frame, 20-18.
Statistical leaders for the Panthers included senior hitter Becky Landry (Nashua, N.H.) with 20 kills, 10 digs and four blocks; freshman hitter Kelly Landry (Nashua, N.H.) with 17 kills and 33 digs; senior setter Jessie O’Hearn (Tilton, N.H.) with 45 set assists and seven digs; and junior libero Amber Greenlaw (Gilford, N.H.) with 22 digs.
Leading the Warriors were Rebecca Kingsley with 17 kills, Kathy Orloski with 13 kills and four blocks, and Jessica Leifert with 18 digs.
The Panthers, who have been ranked in the New England Division III poll much of the season, are hoping for a post-season berth when the ECAC Tournament field is announced on Monday.
Clear. Temperature: 61; Wind: WNW at 7; Conditions as of Wed Jun 19 at 09:00 AM EDT