KEENE, N.H. – Despite seven kills apiece from junior Maria Wimpey (Concord, N.H.) and freshman Elsa MacNeill (Acton, Mass.), Keene State College earned a 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-19) win over Plymouth State University in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's volleyball match at Spaulding Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Wimpey led the Panthers with a .263 attack percentage, but Keene's defense limited PSU to -.009 for the match.
 
Plymouth State dips to 2-1 (2-1 LEC), while Keene State improves to 3-1 (3-1 LEC).
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 0, Keene State 3
  • Plymouth State (2-1, 2-1 LEC)
  • Keene State (3-1, 3-1 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Maria Wimpey (7 kills, .263 atk pct, 3 digs)
• Ryley McNeeley (4 kills, 3 blks, 3 digs)
• Alexa Price (24 asts, 7 digs)

How it Happened:

• Keene State jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the opening set, but back-to-back blocks by sophomore Emilee Flanagan (Milton, N.H.) and freshman Ryley McNeeley (South Easton, Mass.) pulled the Panthers to within 7-5.
• The teams went back-and-forth until the Owls used a 5-0 run to push the lead to 17-9. Flanagan and McNeeley notched consecutive kills but PSU was unable to create sustained momentum as Keene earned a 25-16 win.
• Wimpey's kill and Flanagan's ace helped Plymouth State build a 5-3 lead, but the Owls answered with four straight to pull in front. The game stayed tight as freshman Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) served an ace to even things at 9-9.
• Keene ripped off a 12-1 run to seize control and the Owls went on to a 25-14 win in set two.
• After KSC got out to an early lead, Wimpey's kill cut the margin to 7-5. Later, another Wimpey kill sparked a 3-0 spurt at the Panthers pulled to within 16-12, but Keene State answered with a 5-1 run.
• Plymouth State rallied with a 5-1 streak of its own to cut the deficit to 22-18, but back-to-back kills gave the hosts match point and the Owls would wrap up the match with a 25-19 win.

By the Numbers:

• Junior Alexa Price (Moultonborough, N.H.) directed the Panthers' offense, dishing out 24 assists and adding seven digs.
• Wimpey and MacNeill each recorded seven kills, with Ryan chipping in five of her own.
• Flanagan had four blocks, while McNeeley added three.
• PSU had limited its first two opponents to a combined .011 attack percentage, but the Owls hit .291 on the day.

Up Next:

• Plymouth State hosts Eastern Connecticut State University in its lone home game of the spring on Wednesday (Apr. 21).