Albany, N.Y. ? The third-seeded University of Maine volleyball team posted a dramatic 3-2 upset win over No. 2 Northeastern in the second semifinal of the 2004 America East Volleyball Championship on Friday night at University Gymnasium. The Black Bears advance to the final of the conference championship where they will face No. 1 Albany on Saturday at 4 p.m.

The championship matchup of Albany and Maine guarantees that America East will see a new volleyball champion this season. The Great Danes, in their third tournament appearance, and the Black Bears, in their second appearance, have never won an America East crown and one of them will become the seventh different league title holder in conference history.

Maine and Northeastern swapped games one and two with idential 30-19 scores, with the Black Bears taking the first and the Huskies taking the second. Maine then won the third game, 30-25, before NU took a must-win fourth frame 30-28. The fifth and decisive game went to the Black Bears by a final 15-12 margin.

In a very evenly played match, Maine held a slight hitting edge, .174 to .165. Four Black Bears posted double-doubles as setter Shelly Seipp paced the offense with 45 assists and 13 digs, while Kaili Jordan (17 kills-17 digs), Leah Guidinger (13 kills-13 digs), and Carmen Morgan (12 kills-18 digs) were also keys in the Maine victory. Northeastern was led by Whitney Turners 17 kills and 14 digs.

Northeastern’s second-straight 20-win season comes to a close with a final 20-11 record, while Maine improves to 17-10 on the year.

The America East champion earns the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Championship.

2004 America East Volleyball Championship
All matches at University Gymnasium (Albany, N.Y.)

Semifinals
Friday, November 19
No. 1 Albany 3, No. 4 Binghamton 0
No. 3 Maine 3, No. 2 Northeastern 2

Championship
Saturday, November 20
No. 3 Maine at No. 1 Albany, 4 p.m