Bentley Volleyball Soars into Weekend with 10-Game Win Streak, NE10 Title Implications
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Bentley University’s volleyball team is riding high on a 10-match winning streak as it prepares for crucial Northeast 10 (NE10) contests against Southern connecticut State University on Friday, October 17th, and American International College on Saturday, October 18th. The Falcons will host both matches in the Dana Center.
Honoring Departing Falcons
Friday evening’s match will be a special occasion as Bentley celebrates seniors Erica Borzone, Elizabeth Blinn, and Hannah Rounds, along with their families. The team will recognize their contributions to the program before the start of the game.
A Dominant Run
Bentley’s remarkable winning streak began on September 19th with a decisive 3-0 victory over Molloy College during the East Region Clash, hosted by American International. Notably, half of the Falcons’ wins during this stretch have been achieved in straight sets, demonstrating their consistent performance. Their only five-set match during the streak was a hard-fought victory against Mercy College on October 7th.
NE10 Championship Race Heats Up
The Falcons currently find themselves in a three-way tie for first place in the NE10 standings. With a 4-0 conference record (14-4 overall), Bentley is positioned favorably, though no other team has yet played more than three conference matches.American International also boasts a 3-0 NE10 record (12-3 overall), while Southern Connecticut is 2-0 in conference play (11-3 overall). Adelphi (13-7, 2-1 NE10) and Saint Anselm (9-6, 1-1 NE10) remain competitive contenders with winning overall records.
Elizabeth Blinn: A Defensive Force
Senior Elizabeth Blinn has emerged as a dominant force at the net, currently averaging 1.68 blocks per set. This not only leads the NE10 but also ranks second nationally among NCAA Division II players. Her consistent excellence has earned her NE10 Defensive player of the Week honors three times this season.
NE10 Weekly Accolades
Bentley recently secured three prestigious NE10 weekly awards,announced on October 13th. Sophia Poehlein was recognized as the NE10 Player of the Week for the second time this season.Tory Slim earned her fourth NE10 Setter of the Week award, and Lulu Pavan was named NE10 Rookie of the Week for the second time. Poehlein currently ranks second in the NE10 in kills per set (3.61),while Slim is second in assists per set (9.16). Pavan is a key offensive contributor, ranking second on the team in kills per set (3.00).
defensive Prowess
Bentley’s defensive strategy is proving highly effective, as the team ranks second in the NE10 in opponent hitting percentage (.121), leads the conference in opponent aces allowed per set (1.38), and tops the league in blocks per set (2.34).
Scouting Southern Connecticut
Southern Connecticut State University enters the weekend with a seven-match winning streak of their own. The Owls’ strong defensive play leads the NE10 in opponent hitting percentage (.114). Kerrigan Habing is a key offensive threat, ranking third in the NE10 in kills per set (3.33), while Sarah Henault excels in the back row, ranking second in digs per set (4.33) and third in aces per set (0.56).
Scouting American International
american International College is also on a hot streak, having won eight consecutive matches. The Yellow Jackets boast the NE10’s top two servers in Janelys Perez Cortes (0.67 aces per set) and Daniella Russo-Lolas (0.63 aces per set). AIC is third in the conference in both hitting percentage (.187) and opponent hitting percentage (.137). Earlier this season, on September 20th, Bentley defeated AIC in straight sets during a non-conference matchup. However, AIC emerged victorious in last year’s NE10 Championship match, though Bentley later avenged that loss with a win in the NCAA East Regional Championship match.
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