PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Following their semifinal victories on Thursday, second-seeded UMass Boston and fifth-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University will meet in the championship match of the 2021 Little East Conference Women’s Volleyball Championship Tournament. UMass Boston will host the conference final Saturday at 1 p.m.

No. 2 UMass Boston 3, No. 3 Keene State 2

Four Beacons (13-12) finished in double-figures in kills to help lift volleyball to a huge 3-2 Little East Conference Tournament semi-final win over the third-seed Keene State College (17-13) Owls Thursday evening in the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium.

After exchanging wins through the first four sets, it all came down to the fifth and final frame. The Owls quickly jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but were immediately countered following a UMB timeout. The Beacons would go on a quick 3-1 run to tie the set at 5-5.

The two rivals would exchange points through the middle-third of the stanza. Keene State had their chance to put the Beacons away as they took a 12-9 lead. The Beacons would respond with a 6-1 run to complete the victory.

Marcelle Tiscareno pushed the Beacons to the finish line with a pair of thunderous kills. The senior middle completed the win with 13 kills and a .400 hitting percentage. Livia Trindade looked like a seasoned veteran despite playing in her first LEC Tournament match. The sophomore hitter put down 10 kills and led the Beacons with a .429 hitting percentage.

Aleks Qose and Emilia Czapiewska combined for 30 kills respectively in the victory. Carsen Komminsk tallied 53 kills and led UMB with three aces. Ally Dean put-up 15 digs, while Toni Guerra notched 10 digs.

The Beacons will be hosting their first conference championship match since the 2017 season. UMass Boston is looking to win their second straight LEC title and 10th title overall.

No. 5 Eastern Connecticut 3, No. 1 Plymouth State 1

Anna Barry had 20 kills – including the 1,000th 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.
 
Barry attacked at .326 against Plymouth while Abby Stern – the team's other current player with 1,000 career kills – had 16 kills and a .244 attack percentage. Meg Verizzi 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.
 
Nayeli Cruz Martinez added nine kills and a .286 attack percentage and had four of the team's six service aces. Paula Pérez 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 Alaetra Long 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.