KEENE, N.H. – Fifth seed Eastern Connecticut State University swept second seed Western Connecticut State University 3-0 in the championship game of the 2007 Little East Conference women’s volleyball tournament played Saturday afternoon at Keene State’s Spaulding Gym.

With the win ECSU receives the LEC’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division III tournament.

It’s the third straight championship for the Warriors (11-26), who also captured LEC titles from 1995-1998. Western Conn. (19-12) won four consecutive LEC titles from1999-2003.

Eastern Conn. overcame a 17-9 deficit to win the first game 30-26. The Warriors who trailed throughout the second game got the final two points at the end to pullout a 31-29 victory in the second game. ECSU led from start to finish to claim the third game 30-21.

Senior setter Priscilla Dougherty (Island Park, N.Y.), who finished with four service aces and 32 assists was named the tournaments’ most outstanding player.

The Warriors featured a balanced offense with sophomore hitter Lindsey Odell (Dover Plains, N.Y.) (12 kills), junior hitter Sandra Jaques (Milford, Conn.) (11 kills), and Alex Silvestros (10 kills) leading the way. Junior setter Jen Braswell (Wilton, Conn.) had four service aces each and Lauren Odell (Island Park, N.Y.) added 23 digs.

Sophomore middle hitter Rebecca Stein (Kingston, N.Y.) and freshman hitter Danielle Spangler (Simi Valley, Calif.) had nine kills each to lead the Colonials’ attack. Sophomore libero Christina Bell (Prospect, Conn.) and senior defensive specialists Krystal Wilson (Meridan, Conn.) had 13 and 11 digs respectively, and freshman setter Samantha Hathaway finished with 33 assists.

The upset-minded Warriors posted a 3-2 quarterfinal win over Rhode Island College and a 3-2 victory against top seed Keene State on the way to capturing the title.

WCSU advanced to the finals with a 3-1 semifinal win over Plymouth State.