October 29, 2012

2012 Little East Volleyball Championship Pairings

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Boston captured the top-seed in the Little East Volleyball Championship for the third time in the past four years when the conference office announced the pairings for the six-team tournament field. The Beacons will host the semifinals and championship rounds of the Little East tournament at Quincy High School between November 3-4.

UMass Boston (15-11) and Western Connecticut State University (18-12) each earned a share of the regular season title with a 6-1 mark. The Beacons secured the No. 1 seed by virtue of a head-to-head victory over the Colonials on Oct. 16. UMass Boston has garnered at least a share of the regular season tile for the past four years, while Western Connecticut captured its first regular season title since 2004.

The Little East Conference will sponsor two first round matches on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Sixth-seeded Plymouth State University (15-17) will travel to third-seeded Keene State College (17-15), while fourth-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University (19-12) will host fifth-seeded Rhode Island College (13-15).

The two winners from the first round matches will advance to the final four site. Top-seeded UMass Boston will host the winner between the Warriors and Anchorwomen, while Western Connecticut will square off against the winner between the Owls and Panthers. The two victors meet in the championship round the following afternoon. The champion of the 2012 Little East Volleyball tournament will earn the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship.

Initially formed in 1986 as a six-team men's and women's basketball conference, the Little East Conference will begin its 27th season of sponsoring intercollegiate athletic programs during the 2012-2013 academic year. Western Connecticut State University joined the conference in 1993, while Keene State College raised its current membership to eight teams in 1997.

2012 Little East Volleyball Championship
Wednesday, October 31—First Round
#6 Plymouth State University at #3 Keene State College, 6 p.m.
#5 Rhode Island College at #4 Eastern Connecticut State University, 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 3—Semifinal Round
#5/#4 Winner vs. #1 University of Massachusetts Boston, 12 p.m.
#6/#3 Winner vs. #2 Western Connecticut State University, 3 p.m.

Sunday, November 4 – Championship Round
Semifinal Winners #1 vs. Semifinal Winner #2, 12 p.m.