WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley University women's volleyball team, which returns all but one rotation player from last year's squad that participated in the NCAA Division II East Regional, is ranked third in the Northeast-10 Conference preseason coaches poll.

Bentley, 15-13 overall and 9-4 NE10 in 2021, received one first-place vote and 118 points in the voting, finishing behind American International College (11 firsts, 143) and the University of New Haven (1, 128). The top five also included Saint Anselm College (113) and Adelphi University (95).

Leading the list of 11 returnees are junior Ellie Wheeler (Olathe, Kan./Saint James Academy), senior Ingrid Murphy (Cotuit/Barnstable HS) and graduate student Amanda Parker (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North HS).

Wheeler was a first-team All-Conference honoree and the NE10 Rookie of the Year last year when she led the conference in kills per set (3.80) and was second in points per set (4.1). Murphy, the 2019 NE10 Rookie of the Year, has twice earned third-team All-Conference accolades and was second on the team in both kills and digs last season.

Parker was among the conference leaders in assists and aces last fall.

Coach Joey Pacis has added to his roster with the addition of two transfers, Ali Stuessi (Fairhaven/Fairhaven HS) from the University of New Hampshire and Natalie Thom (Okemos, Mich./Okemos HS) from the University of Indianapolis. Both are now juniors.

Bentley opens the 2022 season August 26-27 when it will host the Hoffman Invitational.

NORTHEAST-10 PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. American International (11) – 143
2. New Haven (1) – 128
3. Bentley (1) – 118
4. Saint Anselm – 112
5. Adelphi – 95
6. Southern Connecticut – 94
7. Southern New Hampshire – 83
8. Franklin Pierce – 66
9. Assumption – 45
9. Le Moyne – 45
11. Saint Rose – 39
12. Pace – 34
13. St. Michael's - 12