SALEM, Mass. -- The Salem State Vikings defeated the Bridgewater State Bears, 5-4, to advance to the Little East Conference Championship match against Western Connecticut University tomorrow afternoon.

Salem State (7-8), which will appear in the finals for the third straight year, will play for the Little East Championship at Western Connecticut beginning at 1:00 PM.

The Vikings, who were the No. 2 seed, took a 2-1 lead over the third seeded Bears after the completion of the doubles matches. Adrien Malosse (Triel Sur Seine, France) and Alex Eisath (Renon, Italy) posted an 8-2 win at number one, while Josh Giller (Peabody, MA) and Johan DaSilva (Barquisimeto,Venezuela) won at the third flight, 8-2, to secure two crucial points for Salem State.

Matt Mailhot (Oxford, MA) and Mike Zagame (Uxbridge, MA) picked up an 8-5 victory at second doubles for the Bears.  Mailhot and Zagame finished the 2010 season with a 12-4 record in doubles play including an 8-0 mark versus Little East opponents.

Malosse and Eisath kept the momentum going for the Vikings, winning at No. 1 and No. 3 singles respectively to put Salem State just a point away from clinching the match.

Malosse won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, at first singles and Eistah came away with a tough three set match at number three, 6-0, 3-6, 6-4.

Armindo Rocha (Brockton, MA), Zagame, and Justin Lipomi (Lowell, MA) each won their singles matches to give Bridgewater State (9-7) a chance to steal the win.

However, DaSilva was victorious over Nicholas Amrose (Arlington, MA), who retired due to injury, to give the Vikings the victory.

Salem State will have a chance to avenge an earlier season loss to the Colonials in the championship match tomorrow afternoon.