FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 27, 2001

#2 COLBY UPSETS #1 BATES TO TAKE MAINE STATE TITLE

Waterville, Maine - In the assiduous championship game, #2 seed Colby College upset the #1 ranked Bates College in only three games. The White Mules smart playing and solid serving and receiving allowed them to run their offense, while the middles dominated and defensive play was scrappy and relentless. Bates earned a championship game spot after defeating the #8 seed University of Maine at Farmington, three games to none. The White Mules took their semifinal game in three games, defeating #3 ranked University of Southern Maine.

In intense third place competition, the #3 ranked University of Southern Maine edged #5 Bowdoin College three games to one. This four game match-up proved to be a close one, as all games ended with only two point margins. USM was able to take advantage of key rallies to secure their third place title.

In nearly two hours of competition, the fifth place match finally found a winner as #4 University of New England defeated the #7 Saint Joseph's College. In an intense five game match, UNE pulled off a tiebreaker victory to win three games to two.

In consolation bracket action, UNE blanked #9 Unity College, winning 3-0. Earlier, Unity defeated #10 Husson College 3-2. Saint Joseph's upset #6 University of Maine at Machias 3-2, after winning their match against #8 UMF 3-0.