Keene State Defeats Vermont State Castleton, 3-1, to Advance to LEC Women’s Volleyball Semifinals

11/10/2026 8:40:48 PM

KEENE, N.H. – Bella Bacon recorded 12 kills and five service aces as third-seeded Keene State defeated sixth-seeded Vermont State Castleton, 3-1, in the First Round of the Little East Conference (LEC) Women’s Volleyball Championship on Tuesday at Spaulding Gym. The Owls won by set scores of 25-22, 16-25, 25-6 and 25-16 to advance to the semifinals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Keene State scored the final three points of the opening set to break a 22-22 tie. A solo block by Aiya Dottin put the Owls ahead before a Shaunah Bracken service ace and a Castleton attack error secured the 25-22 victory.

Castleton answered in the second set, overcoming an early 4-0 deficit. Trailing 8-6, the Spartans scored 10 consecutive points to take a 16-8 lead. Castleton finished the set with 14 kills and a .367 hitting percentage, evening the match with a 25-16 win.

The Owls took control in the third set, building a 16-3 lead on their way to a 25-6 victory. Keene State recorded 10 kills against just one attack error for a .429 hitting percentage, and Bacon served consecutive aces to finish the frame.

Castleton pulled within 16-15 in the fourth set before Keene State closed the match on a 9-1 run. Bacon contributed three kills during that stretch, and Colleen Fraser delivered the match-winning kill off an assist from Ava Harkins.

Inside The Statistics

  • Bacon hit .400 and added eight digs to her 12 kills and five aces. Dottin finished with nine kills and five blocks.
  • Fraser and Marina Miller contributed seven kills apiece, while Reece Connors added six kills, three aces and six digs.
  • Harkins totaled 25 assists and three aces. Alexis Small added 10 assists and seven digs, while Bracken recorded 18 digs and three aces.
  • Alondra Rojas led Castleton with 21 assists, 15 digs, six kills and four aces. Olivia Smith also recorded six kills, while Brianna Walsh collected 14 digs and Nicolette Vaughn added 10.
  • Keene State held a 44-32 advantage in kills and a 15-4 edge in service aces. The Owls hit .185 while holding the Spartans to a .075 hitting percentage.

Up Next

Keene State will travel to second-seeded UMass Dartmouth for an LEC semifinal match on Thursday, Nov. 12.