They have been the two best volleyball teams in the Eastern Connecticut Conference this fall - top-ranked and defending champion Ledyard and No. 2 Fitch. They played twice during the regular season each won a match.

The Colonels and Falcons will play a third time today (6 p.m.) for the ECC tournament championship at Plainfield High School.

Ledyard (19-1) beat the Falcons in four games on Sept. 19. It has dropped just seven games this season. No. 3 Fitch (19-3) edged the Colonels in five games on Oct. 10. It has won its last 12 matches.

"I think our team played really well (in the first match)," Ledyard senior outside hitter Michelle Klinikowski said. "I think their team played really well. … They're a great team. It's fun competition."

The second game was a marathon with the Falcons winning 20-25, 25-23, 29-31, 27-25, and 16-14.

"We played well at their place (the four-game loss)," Fitch coach Steve Banks said. "We just kind of built on that, that we could play with them. Then once we got them at home, we played really well, but one point either way, they win the match."

Klinikowski has been the Colonels' leader and is one of the state's top players. She'll play at Boston College next fall. Klinikowski (6-foot-2) and middle blocker Madison Canestrari (6-3) provide Ledyard with height that few teams have been able to match.

Jenny Nohara sets the Colonels' offense, and libero Mariah Abstetar joined Klinikowski on the All-ECC Large Division first team.

The Falcons' Mae Sefransky is one of the region's top setters and, along with outside hitter Jennifer Severino, was first team All-ECC Large. Outside hitter Mackenzie Aldridge and libero Michelina Pinto were both honorable mention.

- Ned Griffen