PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) pounded a match-high 18 kills and hit nearly .500, but the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth rallied from an 0-2 deficit to top Plymouth State University, 3-2 (25-14, 25-22, 21-25, 22-25, 10-15), to capture the Little East Conference (LEC) regular season crown and top seed for next week's LEC Tournament, while spoiling the Panthers' Senior Day in LEC women's volleyball action at Foley Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
Plymouth State looked well on its way to a fourth straight regular season title after blowing past the Corsairs in set one and staving off a UMD rally in set two to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
With the score tied at 15-15 in the third set, UMD used a quick 3-0 spurt to go ahead, and the Corsairs would hold PSU at arm's length the rest of the way.
UMass Dartmouth carried the momentum into the start of set four, racing out to a 6-1 lead. Plymouth State clawed back, tying the score at 15-15 on a
Kalista Butler (Philipsburg, Pa.) ace and the teams would trade points up to 20-20. The visitors pulled ahead with back-to-back points and scratched to a 24-21 advantage before sending the match to a decisive fifth set.
UMD kept the Pnathers out of system to snag a 7-3 lead and force a timeout. Ryan slammed down a kill, but UMD responded in kind to lead 8-4 at the change. PSU cut the margin to two, 8-6, but the Corsairs used a 3-0 spurt to extend the advantage and Plymouth State was unable to recover.
Plymouth State ends the regular season with a 22-4 record (7-1 LEC) and will be the No. 2 seed for next week's LEC Tournament. The Panthers will host the winner of No. 3 WestConn and No. 6 Eastern Connecticut State in a semifinal match on Thursday (Nov. 9).
UMass Dartmouth (18-6, 8-0 LEC) captures its first regular season title and will host the winner of No. 4 UMass Boston and No. 5 Keene State in the other semifinal match.
Prior to the contest, Plymouth State honored its senior class in a brief on-court ceremony; Ryan,
Ryley McNeeley (Easton, Mass.) and
Aynslee King (Anacortes, Wash.).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, UMass Dartmouth 3
- Plymouth State (22-4, 7-1 LEC)
- UMass Dartmouth (18-6, 8-0 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Junior Lilli Stogner (Weare, N.H.) served three straight points to help PSU take a 7-4 lead in the opener. Ryan ripped off three straight aces as the advantage drew to six points, and Plymouth State would coast from there. McNeeley and Ryan slammed kills and Ryan followed with a huge solo block to make it 20-11 before a UMD error closed out a 25-14 win.
- Freshman Emma Hampton (Durham, N.H.) found the floor and a block from Ryan and junior Lindsey Sanderson (Gilford, N.H.) put the Panthers up 12-9. UMD stayed close, though, ultimately pulling even at 20-20. Stogner and Hampton pounded back-to-back kills and the Panthers would maintain the slight edge the rest of the way to win 25-22 and take a 2-0 lead.
- Stogner pounded three straight kills as the Pnathers took an early three-point edge, but UMass Dartmouth chipped away. The Corsairs scored three straight points to pull ahead, 18-15, and the Panthers were unable to recover as UMD held on the rest of the way for a 25-21 victory.
- The visitors rode the momentum into the start of the fourth set, racing out to a 6-1 advantage. Plymouth State battled back, though, with Butler's ace tying the game at 15-15. The teams traded points up to 20-20, before a kill and PSU error gave the visitors a two-point cushion, 22-20. UMD was able to hold the Panthers at bay the rest of the way, forcing a fifth set behind a 25-22 win.
- Marucci served an ace to start the decisive set, but UMass Dartmouth responded with three straight points and the visitors would lead the rest of the way. A Corsairs' ace pushed the advantage to 7-3, leading to a PSU timeout. Ryan fired up the home crowd with a thunderous kill out of the break, but UMD answered to take an 8-4 lead as the teams switched sides. McNeeley's kill coupled with a Corsairs' error cut the deficit to 8-6, but a UMD block and kill restored the four-point edge and Plymouth State was unable to rally as the UMass Dartmouth went on for the 15-10 win.
By the Numbers:
- Ryan slammed 18 kills with just one error to hit at a .486 clip. She added seven blocks and three aces.
- Stogner posted an impressive double-double with 17 kills and 19 digs and Hampton added 11 kills.
- Marucci controlled the back line with a career-best 35 digs and added ten assists, while McDonough posted a double-double of her own with 24 assists and 25 digs.
- Butler chipped in 22 assists, while junior Imalay Rodriguez Martinez (Juncos, Puerto Rico) added 14 digs.
Up Next:
- Second-seeded Plymouth State will host the winner of third-seeded WestConn and sixth-seeded Eastern Connecticut State in the semifinal round of the LEC Tournament on Thursday (Nov. 9) at 6:00 p.m.
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