PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior middle
Anna Barry (Andover) had 20 kills – including the 1,000
th of her career – to power fifth-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University to a four-set victory over unbeaten No. 1-seeded regular-season champion Plymouth State University in the semifinals of the Little East Conference women's volleyball tournament Thursday night at Foley Gymnasium. Set scorers were 25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 25-12.
After losing to Plymouth (23-3) in five sets 11 days ago at Geissler Gym, Eastern (18-7) won the important second set Tuesday in a tight set which featured 21 ties and lead changes, then closed out the victory by racing to a 12-1 lead en route to the 13-point win in the fourth and final set, handing Plymouth only its second home loss this year in 13 matches.
Senior outside Abby Stern (7) attacks over the block
of Lindsey Sanderson (4) and Nora Ryan (13)
in the first set of Eastern's four-set win over the
Panthers in the Little East Conference semifinals
Tuesday night at Foley Gymnasium.
(Photo courtesy of PSU Sports Information)
Eastern (5-3 LEC), which finished in a four-way tie for second place behind Plymouth (8-0) -- ranked seventh in New England -- as the pre-season LEC favorite, attempts to win its second LEC playoff title in three years Saturday when it faces second-seeded Massachusetts Boston (13-12) in Saturday's 1 p.m. finals match at the Clark Athletic Center on the UMB campus. The Beacons
eliminated third-seeded Keene State College in five sets Tuesday night. UMass Boston defeated Plymouth State in 2019 for its ninth tournament title in the past 11 years.
Barry, the LEC leader in kills, attack percentage and points, became the tenth player in program history to reach 1,000 kills with her third kill of the match. She has 1,017 kills in 303 career sets.
Barry attacked at .326 against Plymouth while senior
Abby Stern (Manchester) – the team's other current player with 1,000 career kills – had 16 kills and a .244 attack percentage. Senior setter
Meg Verizzi (Lebanon) had her fifth match this year of at least 50 assists, totalling 53 to move to within 37 of becoming the sixth player in program history with as many as 1,000 assists in a season.
Junior
Nayeli Cruz Martinez (Toa Baja, P.R.) added nine kills and a .286 attack percentage and had four of the team's six service aces. Junior libero
Paula Pérez (Caguas, P.R.) led both teams with 25 digs as one of four Eastern players in double figures. Barry also contributed four of the team's 12 block assists and senior
Alaetra Long (Lincoln, NE) handled a team-high 31 receptions with only two errors.
Eastern is making only its third finals appearance in the last 13 years since capturing three championship in a row from 2005-07.
