DANBURY, Conn. – Perhaps the only thing standing between the Eastern Connecticut State University women's volleyball team and a 20-win season – or even a berth in the Little East Conference tournament semifinals – was experience.

While fifth-seeded Eastern (14-17)  was eliminated in the first round of the tournament by fourth-seeded Western Connecticut (25-8) in straight sets (25-17, 25-23, 27-25) Tuesday night at Feldman Arena, all three sets were winnable.

At right: Freshmen Amanda Tyler and Kate Mullen defend against Western's Nina Wojtkiewicz (Photo by Haley Heslin)

 The Warriors, who started two freshmen and two sophomores against a Colonial team featuring two seniors and three juniors among its starting seven, held leads in all three sets, but faltered down the stretch in each and had their season ended.

Western, which avoided losing to Eastern on its home court in the opening round of the tournament for the second straight year, visits fourth-time defending champion and top seed Massachusetts Boston  Saturday at 2 p.m. in the semifinals.

Tuesday, Western scored the final eight points to break a 17-all tie in the first set, then escaped with two-point victories in the second and third sets. 

In the second set, the Warriors led by as many as four points on several occasions –  as late as 16-12 – but the hosts tied the match in the late stages and scored the final two points to snap the final tied on an Eastern service error and a set-ending service ace by freshman Kelly Rotando.

Eastern fell back by 5-1 in the third set but would not give in eventually forcing the Colonials to call two timeouts while the Warriors were outscoring the hosts 6-1 to move out to a 19-14 advantage. In that stretch,  Western handed Eastern the first two points on attack errors, freshmen outside hitter Adrianna Mihalek (Woodbury) had two kills and a service ace and freshman middle Kay Mullen (Fairhaven, MA) a kill.

In that third set, the Warriors led by six points (22-17), but was outscored 10-3 the rest of the way. Senior outside Nicki Gasch (New Fairfield) moved Eastern to within set point with a kill off a pass from junior setter Jess Patrizi (Beacon Falls), but the Colonials regained possession and tied the match at 25-all on an Eastern service error. An Eastern attack error gave the Colonials the one-point lead and the hosts closed it out on a kill from freshman Karissa Smith.

Sophomore libero Allie Luppi (Tewksbury, MA) commited only one reception error on 23 attempts and added a team-high 11 digs. Mullen had nine kills and attacked at .471 and added four blocks, while Mihalek totaled a match-high 14 kills and handled 23 receptions with only one error. Junior Allie Henry (Middletown) and Patrizi combined on 31 assists.

The 5-foot-11 inch Smith  led Western in kills with 13. Junior Jenny Hogan handed out 24 assists. Junior Nina Wojtkiewicz led the Colonials on defense with 19 digs, senior Rachel Volpe adding 14.