PROVIDENCE, RI  —  Plymouth State University junior outside hitter Kelly Landry (Nashua, NH) received Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors, Western Connecticut State University sophomore libero Shannon Desmond (Quincy, MA) was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year, while University of Southern Maine freshman middle blocker Ashley Freeman (Gorham, ME) earned Rookie of the Year accolades and Head Coach Mike Holden of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth was cited as the league’s Coach of the Year to highlight the league's annual list of award winners.

Landry led Plymouth State, and the league, in kills, with 553 on the season, and ranked third in hitting percentage at .295. She also contributed 70 service aces, 334 digs and 38 blocks. Landry help lead the Panthers to their first-ever LEC Tournament Championship. For her efforts in tournament play, she was named the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

Desmond anchored a Western Connecticut defense as she had a team-high 523 digs, which was good for second in the conference. Along with her dig numbers, Desmond contributed nine kills, 17 assists and 30 service aces. Desmond helped lead the Colonials to a Co-Regular Season Championship and a spot in the semi-finals of the LEC Tournament, where they fell to eventual champion Plymouth State.

A two-time recipient of the league’s rookie of the Week Award, Freeman, led Southern Maine in kills, 279, and blocks, 79. Her well-rounded play this season also produced three assists, 43 service aces and 240 digs.

Along with Landry and Desmond, the All-Conference First Team features Plymouth State University junior setter Amanda Bagwell (Riverside, RI), Eastern Connecticut State University junior right side hitter Chrissie Siranko (Danbury, CT), Plymouth State University junior middle hitter Becky Ciulla (Chelmsford, MA), Rhode Island College middle hitter Erin Miga (Cranston, RI) and Western Connecticut State University freshman outside hitter Tiffany Phoenix (Cresskill, NJ).

Earning Second Team All-Conference honors are Western Connecticut State University sophomore setter Kassie Moore (Pocasset, MA), University of Massachusetts Dartmouth senior right side hitter Nicole Verronneau (Fairhaven, MA), Western Connecticut State University junior right side hitter Lisa Horvay (Winsted, CT), Eastern Connecticut State University freshman middle hitter Emma Sousa (Coventry, RI), Eastern Connecticut State University junior middle hitter Nicole Tassone (East Patchogue, NY), Western Connecticut State University senior middle hitter Tricia Lawley (Hooksett, NH), Eastern Connecticut State University senior outside hitters Amanda Jassen (Winsted, CT) and Jessica Leifert (Winsted, CT), Rhode Island College sophomore outside hitter Kari Geisler (Deerfield, NH), Rhode Island College junior outside hitter Kristy Nix (East Setauket, NY) and Eastern Connecticut State University sophomore libero Marianna Capomolla (Stamford, CT).

Little East Conference - 2004 Volleyball Awards

Offensive Player of the Year

Kelly Landry, Junior, Outside Hitter, Plymouth State University

Defensive Player of the Year

Shannon Desmond, Sophomore, Libero, Western Connecticut State University

Rookie of the Year

Ashley Freeman, Freshman, Middle Blocker, University of Southern Maine

Coach of the Year

Mike Holden, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

First Team