GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – For the first time in 18 years, the Bentley volleyball team will play for the NCAA D-II East Regional title. The #3 Falcons topped #7 Mercy in four sets (25-23, 21-25, 25-13, 25-14) in the second round of the NCAA D-II Championship at Adelphi Friday night.

Hannah Rounds posted a career-best 11 kills, while Ingrid Murphy and Ellie Wheeler tallied 16 and 14, respectively.

Similarly to its first-round win over Southern New Hampshire Thursday night, Bentley got off to a slow start against Mercy. The Mavericks opened the first set with a 12-6 lead, and they continued to hold a six-point edge at 15-9.

That's when the Falcons went on a 4-0 run, which was capped off by a Natalie Thom service ace. The Falcons continued to inch closer, and a Murphy kill followed by a Mavericks error allowed Bentley to take a 22-21 lead. A kill from Wheeler put the Falcons ahead, 24-23, and an ace from Murphy sealed the set.

Mercy bounced back with a 25-21 win in the second set, but Bentley was in total control for the third and fourth sets. Ali Stuessi served the Falcons to a 5-0 lead to begin the third set, and the advantage grew to 9-2 following a kill from Murphy. Bentley didn't let the score get closer than a five-point differential from there.

Mercy scored the first two points of the third set, but then the Falcons immediately went on a 7-0 run and never looked back.

While the Falcons attacked at a .197 clip, their defense held the Mavericks to a .133 mark. Jazzy Burke led the defensive efforts with 20 digs.

Bentley will take on #5 Daemen Saturday, Dec. 2, for the East Regional title at 7 p.m. It is Bentley's first NCAA East Regional Championship appearance since 2005.