WILLIMANTIC, Conn. –For a little less than 20 hours, the Eastern Connecticut State University women's volleyball team will enjoy the view -- by itself -- atop the Little East Conference standings.

Sophomore outside Alaetra Long (Lincoln, NE) had two kills to help the Warriors overcome a late one-point deficit in the first set and the Warriors went on to a 25-23, 25-14, 25-21 Little East Conference victory over Plymouth State University Friday night at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium. The team's sixth straight conference victory gives the Warriors (16-6, 6-1 LEC) a half-game lead in the conference ahead of idle Keene State College and UMass Boston with one conference regular-season match remaining. Keene (5-1 LEC) hosts UMass Boston (5-1 LEC) Saturday, with the winner regaining a share of the lead with Eastern.

If the Warriors finish tied with UMass Boston, Eastern will unofficially be awarded the No. 1 seed based upon its regular-season win over the Beacons. If Eastern and Keene State tie for the top spot, Keene will be awarded the No. 1 seed based on the Owls' regular-season win over Eastern.

Eastern hosts the University of Southern Maine (3-3 LEC) Oct. 27 in its LEC regular-season finale.

The six LEC regular-season wins are the most for Eastern since it went 7-0 en route to the 2006 LEC regular-season and playoff titles.

Against Plymouth (8-17, 1-5 LEC), there were 12 ties and eight lead changes in the first set. Trailing by one, the Warriors broke serve and tied the match, 23-23 on Long's kill, and senior middle Carly Balskus's (Hebron) serving closed out the win. Senior middle Jackie Orlowski (Woodstock) followed with a kill to make it 24-23, and Long ended it with her fifth kill of the set (without an error). Freshman setter Meg Verizzi (Lebanon) assisted on Eastern's final three points.

Freshman middle Anna Barry (Andover), ranked among the national leaders in attack percentage, attacked at .364 (nine kills against one error) and is now attacking at .378 on the season. Sophomore outside Abby Stern (Manchester) led all players with 14 kills and attacked at .256 for Eastern, with Balskus adding six kills.

Long shared game-high honors with 14 digs, junior Mckenzie Maneggia (Andover) adding 11 digs and 15 assists. Verizzi topped Eastern with 18 assists. Barry and sophomore right side Lauren Notholt (Milford) each had three blocks.

The Warriors collected eight service aces against only three reception errors. Long and Stern each had three. Freshman libero Madison Bell (Salem) handled 14 receptions without an error, and Stern had a .941 reception percentage on 17 attempts.

Senior middle Ari Linden led Plymouth with nine kills, a .278 attack percentage and four blocks, but the Panthers attacked at just .071 in dropping their sixth straight and 16 of their last 18 following a 6-1 start. Freshman setter Alexa Price recorded 29 of her team's 30 assists and Linden, junior outside Lex Bowers and junior outside Alisha Flanagan  combined for 40 digs.

Eastern visits Salve Regina University tomorrow at 10 a.m. and will also face LEC opponent UMass Dartmouth in a non-conference match at noon.