PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The lowered seeds prevailed in five sets in both 2022 Little East Conference (LEC) Women’s Volleyball Championship Tournament First Round matches Tuesday, which saw fifth-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University defeat fourth-seeded Western Connecticut State University and sixth-seeded UMass Boston down third-seeded UMass Dartmouth.
 
No. 6 UMass Boston 3, No. 3 UMass Dartmouth 2
 
The Corsairs (19-8) took the opening set 25-16, but quickly found themselves trailing the defending LEC champions after the Beacons won the next two by scores of 25-21 and 25-14. UMass Dartmouth forced the fifth and deciding set by winning the fourth 25-18, where UMass Boston prevailed 15-7 to take home the victory.
 
Mckayla Geraghty led all players with 13 kills for the Beacons, to go along with six digs, while Livia Trindade totaled eight kills and five digs. Reigning LEC Rookie of the Week Amelia Devlin had a strong all-around performance, as she filled the box score with 29 assists, six digs, four blocks and three aces while totaling five kills on nine error-free attempts for a .556 hitting percentage.
 
Devon Laing and Kate Wade were both one kill shy of a double-double for the Corsairs. Laine totaled nine kills and 13 digs, while Wade notched nine kills and a team-best 19 digs.
 
No. 5 Eastern Connecticut 3, No. 4 Western Connecticut 2
 
The Warriors (15-9) were in a position to sweep the match after taking the opening sets by scores of 25-22 and 25-21, but the Wolves battled to back to tie the match following a 25-18 third set win an 25-22 fourth set triumph. Eastern quickly took control of the fifth and deciding set, starting it off with an 8-0 run on its way to a 15-8 win to clinch the victory.
 
Anna Barry led all players with 16 kills while hitting .382 for the Warriors, and added a pair of solo blocks. Taylor Thompson also finished in double figures with 12 kills. Meg Verizzi notched 45 assists and 17 digs, while Paula Perez had a team-best 19 digs.
 
Abbi Debes led the Wolves with 11 kills and four blocks (one solo), while Anna Cascapera and Taylor Rohan added eight kills each. Rory McMaster totaled 33 assists and 11 digs, while Olivia Monteleone tallied a match-high 32 digs.
 
Up Next
 
The Warriors will next head to top-seeded Plymouth State University for a 6 p.m. LEC semifinal match Thursday, while the Beacons will travel to second-seeded Keene State College for a 7 p.m. LEC semifinal match.