PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) smashed 12 kills and added five blocks to lift top-seeded Plymouth State University to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 28-26) win over fifth-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University in the semifinal round of the Little East Conference (LEC) women's volleyball tournament at Foley Gymnasium on Thursday evening.
Plymouth State controlled the opening set from start to finish. The Warriors maintained a slight edge through much of the second set before PSU rallied and back-to-back kills by Ryan closed out a narrow victory as the Panthers seized a 2-0 lead. Plymouth State looked poised to sweep, but the Warriors stormed back to take leads of 23-20 and 24-22. PSU fought off three set points, though, completing the sweep with a 28-26 win.
Ryan led the Panthers with 12 kills, while senior
Emilee Flanagan (Milton, N.H.) posted seven kills without an error (.583 attack pct.). Sophomore
Makayla Marucci (Newton, Mass.) was all over the back court with a match-high 20 digs.
Plymouth State moves to 21-6 and advances to the championship match for the second time in the last three full seasons. The Panthers will host second-seeded Keene State in the title game on Saturday (Nov. 5).
ECSU, which upset the Panthers at home in the semifinals a year ago, ends the year with a 15-10 mark.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Eastern Connecticut 0
- Plymouth State (21-6)
- Eastern Connecticut (15-10)
How it Happened:
- Senior Natalie Gravelle (Portsmouth, N.H.) got the home team off to a quick start with a kill and two aces as PSU jumped out to a 6-2 advantage. Ryan had three kills and contributed on a block as the lead swelled to 18-10, but Eastern Connecticut rallied with six straight points. Plymouth State recovered, though, and Gravelle and junior Ryley McNeeley (Easton, Mass.) had kills ahead of a Warriors' error to close out the first set, 25-19.
- ECSU used an early five-point run to take a 7-3 lead and the visitors would stay in front until the midpoint. Ryan's kill sparked a 7-1 spurt as PSU surged in front, 17-15. The lead changed hands several times down the stretch, with the Panthers taking advantage of a missed serve to grab a two-point advantage at 22-20. The teams traded points from there until Ryan's back-to-back kills wrapped up the 25-22 victory.
- The Panthers looked to have things in control as Gravelle's kill and ace helped the hosts to a 15-9 lead. With its season on the line, Eastern Connecticut battled back to jump in front, 21-19, and eventually stretched the lead to 23-20. The Warriors earned the first of three set points at 24-22, but PSU staved them all off with clutch kills from sophomore Lindsey Sanderson (Gilford, N.H.) and Flanagan. With the score knotted at 26-26, Flanagan's kill gave the Panthers a final match-point before a Warriors' attack error sent PSU to the title game.
By the Numbers:
- Ryan hit .296 with her 12 kills, while adding five blocks.
- Stogner, Flanagan and Gravelle each chipped in with seven kills. Flanagan hit .583, while Gravelle added three aces.
- Marucci posted a match-best 20 digs.
- Freshmen Riley McDonough (Gilford, N.H.) and Kalista Butler (Philipsburg, Pa.) posted 17 assists apiece.
- PSU hit .387 in the opening set.
- Plymouth State avenged last season's semifinal loss to the Warriors by sweeping them in both meetings this year.
- The Panthers will be playing in the conference finals for the eighth time and seeking their second LEC title.
Up Next:
- Top-seeded Plymouth State welcomes second-seeded Keene State to Foley Gymnasium for the championship game on Saturday (Nov. 5). The Owls were the only LEC team to beat PSU this fall. First serve is set for 1:00 p.m.
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