DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Plymouth State University used two solid opening sets to hold on for a 3-1 victory over UMass Dartmouth in the Championship Match of the 2025 Little East Conference Tournament, hosted at Tripp Gym. The third-seeded Panthers move to 23-7 on the season and earn the LEC's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Corsairs conclude their season with a 21-8 overall record.
In the opening set, the Corsairs owned a 14-8 lead following a four-point swing that saw sophomore opposite
Olivia Seutter, junior outside hitter and captain
Allison Pate both lay down kills while senior defensive specialist and captain
Emily Pogorelec posted a service ace for the advantage.
It was short lived as the Panthers rallied to later tie the match at 19-all on an ace by Alice Borriello Diaz. The momentum continued to swing but four straight points, including back-to-back kills by Sydney Riley saw Plymouth power its way to a 25-22 set one victory.
The Panthers put forth a dominant effort opening up a 16-7 lead on a seven-point run. Plymouth State had another stretch to go up 24-8 and the Corsairs added two points before the visitors sealed the 25-10 set two victory.
UMass Dartmouth bounced back in the third set, opening up a 5-0 lead as they took advantage off a several Panthers errors. Plymouth State later went on a 5-0 run of their own to close the margin to 22-17, but three straight points, including a pair of kills from Seutter closed out the win for the home team.
Fourth set action saw a close battle throughout as a kill from Sya McKay gave the Panthers a 16-13 advantage. The Corsairs rebounded, using a 4-0 stretch with kills from Pate and rookie outside hitter
Ashley Serverius to make it a one-point margin (19-18).
With Plymouth holding a 23-19 lead, junior opposite
Maddie Carter laid down a kill to make it a three-point differential, but the Panthers sealed the championship win behind kills from Annalyn Cahill and McKay.
The Corsairs were led by 12 kills each from Pate and Seutter. Pate also posted 19 digs, while Pogorelec had 17 digs. Junior setter
Skye Peters added 29 assists with two aces and nine digs.
