'KEENE, N.H. 11/01/05 - Third seeded Keene State College swept a three game match (3-0) against sixth-seed Western Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference Tournament quarterfinal women's volleyball match at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday night.

Keene State (16-11) advances to the semifinals where they will play second seed Plymouth State University at Eastern Conn. on Friday (4 p.m.).  Fourth seed Rhode Island College, a 3-0 winner over fifth seed UMass-Dartmouth in Tuesday's other quarterfinal match, will play top seed Eastern Conn. in the second semifinal contest.

Keene State, which advances to the LEC semifinals for the third time, had a balanced attack against WCSU, which won five straight LEC titles between 1999-2003.  Senior middle blocker Shelly Ellis (Hampton, N.H.) led the Owls with 12 kills, 17 digs, two blocks, and two service aces.

"We came out strong from the start and never let them get on a roll," said Ellis.  "We've played them earlier in the season, so we knew what they were going to do and just went out and executed our game plan."

Sophomore hitter Kelly Yankowski (Turners Falls, Mass.) finished with 13 kills, eight digs, and two blocks, freshman hitter Brittany O'Bryant (Merrimack, N.H.) had 11 kills and 13 digs, and junior hitter Genna Florkowski added nine kills, 17 digs, and three service aces.

"When this team sets its mind on playing, it can do some great things, and tonight was one of those nights," said KSC Coach Bob Weiner.  "It's nice to have success against teams we've never beaten.   Next on our plate is Plymouth State.  They beat us 3-2 earlier in the season, but we've not the same team as we were back then."

Sophomore hitter Tiffany Phoenix (Cresskill, N.J.) had 19 kills, five digs, and one block and senior setter Stefanie Weise (New Fairfield, Conn.) finished with 27 assists, two service aces, and two kills to lead WCSU (9-14).

Prior to this season's two win over WCSU, KSC had lost eight straight matches against the Colonials.