QUINCY, MASS. 11/4/12 – The third seeded Keene State College women's volleyball team lost to top-seed UMass-Boston 3-1 in the championship game of the Little East Conference tournament at Quincy (Mass.) High School on Sunday after noon.

The Beacons (17-11) capture their third consecutive LEC title while Keene State (19-16) awaits a possible berth to the ECAC New England tournament on Monday.

"UMass-Boston was fired up for this match.  They weren't messing around with us," said KSC Coach Bob Weiner.  "They had no other way to the NCAA tournament except this win. "

"It was the best defensive performance I've seen by them in a couple of years," Weiner added. "We didn't play as badly as it looked. Every time we hit a ball they popped it up.  Of all the days we chose to play like a bunch of freshman it was today."

Playing on the back of their heels most of the match, the Owls dropped the first two games 25-15 and 25-9 before rallying to take the third game 25-22.  The Beacons opened up a 21-13 lead on the way to taking the fourth game 25-16. 

Freshman Angela Silveri (Poughquag, N.Y.) led the Owls offense with seven kills.  Sophomore Sammy Dormio (Leesburg, Va.) and freshman Olivia Broderick (Gilford, N.H.) each had six kills.  Dormio also had 13 digs.

Freshman Kaitlin Boyer (West Greenwich, R.I.) had 18 digs and freshman setter Alexis Michal (Windham, N.H.) finished with 25 assists and 17 digs.

Senior All-American Shannon Thompson led UMass-Boston with 16 kills, 17 digs, and eight blocks.

Weiner said the match was a learning experience for his young team.  "I told the players to take something positive from the match and learn what it takes to win the championship," said Weiner.  "We can be that good."

Keene State was making its fourth trip to the LEC finals under Weiner.  They won their lone title in 2008.