PLYMOUTH, N.H. 11/5/11 – The Keene State College volleyball team fought hard against no. 18 UMass Boston, but fell in the Little East Conference semifinals 3-1 (17-25, 25-10, 26-24, 25-21) on Saturday evening at Foley Gymnasium on the campus of Plymouth State University.

"We came out and played how we were supposed to in the 1st set," said KSC head coach Bob Weiner. "in the second set they put it into overdrive, and in the third and fourth, we were one kills away from turning it around on them at so many different points. We were right there."

With the loss the Owls drop to 18-13 on the season, and will await a bid to the ECAC tournament. With the victory, the Beacons move on to the Little East Conference title game against host Plymouth State, who handed UMass Boston their first conference loss in over two years back on October 25th.

Senior Ellyse Davis (Londonderry, N.H.) led the Owls with 10 kills, while classmates Bridget O'Bryant (Merrimack, N.H.) and Kristen Girard (Red Hook, N.Y.) added nine kills apiece.  Senior setter Laurie Whalen (Niantic, Conn.) ran the offense, finishing with 31 assists, and Whalen and freshman Sammy Dorimo (Leesburg, Va.) contributed 11 and 10 digs, respectively.

An inspired Keene State team came out of the gate and took it to the Beacons, who had swept the Owls in last week's regular season match.  KSC jumped ahead 10-6 and 13-8 before UMB was forced to call timeout.  The Owls later won eight out of nine points to open up a 21-10 advantage.  UMB staged a late rally but Keene State won the first set, 25-17.

It was UMass Boston's turn to control play in the second set, as the Beacons stormed to a 9-0 score to start off.  It was UMB the whole way as the Beacons never let up, going on to win the second set 25-10 to tie the match.

The pivotal third set was the closest, with 10 tied before the score was deadlocked at 14-14.  KSC pulled ahead 17-16, but UMB came back with six of the next seven points to regain the lead, 22-18.  The teams see-sawed back and forth and it was tied 24-24 when Thompson made two straight kills to give the Beacons set three, 26-24.

UMB started to pull away in the fourth set, leading 10-7, but the Owls came back to tie the set at 19-all.  The Beacons would not be denied and close out the set, 25-21, and the match, 3-1.

(Courtesy Plymouth State Sports Information)