'WILLIMANTIC, CONN.  11/5/05 -  The Keene State College women's volleyball team saw its bid for a first-ever Little East Conference Championship come up one match short after falling to Eastern Connecticut State University 3-0 in the tournament finals at Willimantic on Saturday.

The top seeded Warriors defeated the third-seeded Owls 30-23, 30-28, and 30-22. 

With the victory, ECSU (28-10) captures its fourth LEC Championship and the conference's automatic NCAA bid.  It was their first title since 1998.  Keene State (17-12), which was making its first ever trip to the finals, will await a first-ever ECAC New England berth, expected to be announced on Monday.

"We were in the match and led at the 15-point mark in all three games. But we just didn't have enough to finish it off," said a disappointed KSC Coach Bob Weiner.  "But give Eastern credit.  They're a big, strong, athletic team.  They came in with a game plan and they were ready for us."

Freshman Brittany O'Bryant (Merrimack, N.H.) led KSC with 13 kills, 14 digs, and two blocks while senior Shelly Ellis (Hampton, N.H.) finished with eight kills, 22 digs, and three blocks.