Bentley Slotted in 8th in NE10 Volleyball Preseason Poll
WALTHAM, Mass. – With a roster that includes five seniors and three juniors, the Bentley University women's volleyball team was ranked eighth in the preseason Northeast-10 Conference coaches' poll, which was released by the NE10 Tuesday.
Coming off a season that saw the team finish 11-17 overall and 7-7 NE10, Bentley totaled 90 points in the voting. The number eight slotting in the poll mirrors the Falcons' finish a year ago when they concluded the conference schedule in a four-way tie for eighth.
First place votes were divided among Adelphi University (7), American International (4) and defending regular season champion University of New Haven (3). That's the order they finished in the voting with Adelphi (159) edging AIC (156) and New Haven (153) for the top spot.
Coach Joey Pacis will enter his sixth Bentley season with eight players who have at least 85 career sets under their belts. That includes two-time second-team All-Northeast-10 middle hitter Rachel Bruno (San Diego, Calif./Francis Parker School), the conference leader in hitting percentage the last two seasons.
Pacis will also be looking for a return to form from senior Dani Milner (Plano, Texas/The Greenhill School), a first-team All-Conference honoree who missed most of last year with injury.
Bentley will open its season Sept. 6-7 with the California State San Marcos Cougar Classic. The first home action will be the following weekend with the Sandy Hoffman Memorial.
Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Adelphi (7) 159 27-7, 12-2
2. American Int'l. (4) 156 24-12. 11-3
3. New Haven (3) 153 26-6, 13-1
4. Southern N.H. 112 10-13, 8-6
5. Saint Anselm 106 17-13, 7-7
5. Southern Conn. State. 106 21-14, 10-4
7. Pace 95 20-10, 8-6
8. Bentley 90 11-17, 7-7
9. Saint Rose 78 17-12, 8-6
10. Le Moyne 72 15-9, 7-7
11. Stonehill 71 11-11, 7-7
12. Franklin Pierce 35 5-25, 1-13
13. Assumption 28 3-18, 3-11
14. St. Michael's 13 0-19, 0-14