DANBURY, Conn. – Eastern Connecticut State University's last visit to Feldman Arena produced a rousing five-set victory against higher-seeded Western Connecticut State University in the first round of the 2011 Little East Conference tournament.

At right: Allie Luppi

As it did in 2011, Eastern (9-10, 2-2 Little East) lost two of the first three matches Tuesday, but this time could not find its way back in a four-set loss to Western (17-4, 3-0 Little East) that kept the Colonials with a share of the top spot in the conference with four-time defending LEC tournament champion UMass Boston. Eastern entered play in fourth place in the conference and drops one spot to fifth, a half-game back of Plymouth State University and Keene State College.

Western won by scores of 25-23, 25-15, 20-25, 25-20.

Freshman Adrianna Mihalek (Woodbury) led Eastern with 12 kills and was second on the team with 18 digs; senior Nicki Gasch (New Fairfield) and freshman Kay Mullen (Fairhaven, MA) combined for 14 kills, with Mullen attacking at .267; Sophomore libero Allie Luppi (Tewksbury, MA) topped Eastern with 20 digs and juniors Allie Henry (Middletown) and Jess Patrizi (Beacon Falls)  combined for 36 assists.

Western All-LEC junior Nina Wojtkiewicz collected ten kills and 17 digs for Western, with All-LEC setter handing out 30 assists.

A winner of nine of its last ten matches, Western has won six of the last seven matches against Eastern, the one Warrior victory in that stretch coming two years ago in the first round of the LEC tournament.

Saturday at Wheaton College (MA), Eastern faces Saint Joseph's College (ME) at 3 p.m. and host Wheaton at 5 p.m. in two non-conference matches.