BEVERLY, Mass. 11/13/10 – For the first time in program history, the Keene State College volleyball team won the ECAC Northeast Championship by defeating in-state rival Plymouth State 3-1 in the semifinals(25-19, 20-25, 25-21, 25-19) and topping host Endicott College 3-1 (25-23, 7-25, 25-20, 26-24) on Saturday night in Beverly, Mass.

"Winning the ECAC Tournament means a great deal to our program," said KSC head coach Bob Weiner. "Endicott is the first team all year that is significantly taller than us but the girls worked hard  and came away with championship. I am so very proud of them."

After winning a close game one 25-23, Endicott surged back, taking game two 25-7.

"Endicott used their size really well in that set," said Weiner. "Our hitters started to get a little timid, but when the set was over I told them to go out their and hit like they know how and they did."

After hitting -.065 in set number two, the Owls closed the match by hitting .267 in game number four en route to the 3-1 win.

Junior Ellyse Davis (Londonderry, N.H.) was named the tournament's most outstanding player. She finished the championship game with 13 kills and a .306 hitting percentage for the Owls.

Junior outside-hitter Kristen Girard (Tivoli, N.Y.) had a team-high 16 kills. Sophomore Ali Facchini (Niantic, Conn.) and junior Bridget O'Bryant (Merrimack, N.H.) each had seven kills for the Owls. Junior setter Laurie Whalen (Niantic, Conn.) had 40 assists and three service aces, while senior libero Jamie Levine (Medfield, Mass.) finished her Owl career with a team-high 27 digs.

In the semifinal win over Plymouth State, Girard finished with 16 kills and 15 digs. Whalen had a team-high 34 assists, while Levine had 24 digs in the victory. This marks the third time KSC has defeated than Panthers this season.

The Owls conclude the season at 27-12 and as ECAC Champions.