WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley University Falcons swept Pace University Saturday night at the Dana Center with the team's seventh consecutive win giving coach Joey Pacis' team a share of the Northeast-10 conference regular season title.

The 25-22, 25-12, 25-19 Senior Night win wrapped up a 23-5 regular season for Bentley, a record that includes 11-1 in NE10 play. It's the Falcons' 14^th conference championship all-time and second in the last three seasons (excluding the pandemic-cancelled 2020 campaign).

Bentley's offensive attack was led by junior Ellie Wheeler (Olathe, Kans./Saint James Academy) and sophomore Rachel Vitko (Dover, N.H./Dover HS), with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Wheeler swung at an impressive .409 success rate and Vitko hit .227.

There were ten kills and five lead changes in an opening set that saw Bentley score five of the last seven points after the teams were knotted at 20-20. That closing burst included two kills by Wheeler, one from Vitko and four assists by graduate setter Amanda Parker (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North HS).

A 12-3 run finished the second set. Wheeler and senior Ingrid Murphy (Cotuit/Barnstable HS) combined for seven kills, no errors and a .500 hitting percentage in that one.

It was another strong close to the third with Bentley putting together an 11-5 finishing burst. Match-point came from Murphy off a set from Parker.

Murphy followed Wheeler and Vitko with eight kills, and she also pitched in with 12 digs. Parker finished with 26 assists and two aces.

Bentley outhit the Setters (5-19, 3-9 NE10) .308 to .114, and also had a 7-1 advantage in aces.

The Falcons will host Southern Connecticut State Thursday night in the NE10 quarterfinals.