WILLIMANTIC, Conn. - The Plymouth State University volleyball team registered a pair of key Little East Conference victories on Saturday, edging Rhode Island College in five games and sweeping Eastern Connecticut State University in three games in an LEC Round Robin at ECSU's Geissler Gymnasium.

The Panthers improve to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play this season, while RIC is now 7-4 and 1-1 and Eastern Conn. is 3-9 and 0-2. Eastern was predicted second in the LEC preseason poll, while RIC and PSU were picked in tie for third with Western Conn. Plymouth State lost to both teams last year in five games.

The Panthers won the first two games against RIC, 30-21 and 30-28, before the Anchorwomen battled back to take the next two games, 30-27 and 30-16. PSU pulled out the match with a 15-13 decision in the fifth game.

Junior Regan Bowlen (Portsmouth, N.H.) led the Panthers with 17 kills and three blocks, while senior Kirsten Willoughby (Plymouth, N.H.) added 10 kills. Junior Sarah Spears (Meredith, N.H.) recorded 22 digs, and sophomore setter Brianna Kleckner (Terryville, Conn.) finished with 13 digs and 42 set assists.

Following that grueling match, PSU came back with a 30-25, 30-25, 30-25 triumph over Eastern Conn. Bowlen and junior Wendy Dziedzic (Nashua, N.H.) recorded 11 and 10 kills, respectively, and Kleckner contributed 33 set assists.

Plymouth State returns home to host Endicott Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.

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