Falcons enter weekend as top-ranked team in East Region
WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley volleyball team enters its final weekend of the regular season as the No. 1 ranked team in the NCAA D-II East Region. The Falcons are on the road to take on Adelphi (Nov. 10) and Pace (Nov. 11).
Regional landscape
With a 20-1 regional record (20-4 overall), Bentley is the top team in the east. American International (14-4 East Region) is ranked second, and Adelphi (21-1) is third.
Conference landscape
Bentley (8-1 NE10) a half game behind Adelphi (9-1) for first place in the Northeast-10 standings. New Haven (8-1) has the same conference record as Bentley, while American International (8-2) is close behind.
Stacking wins
Bentley has won 16 of its last 17 matches, including a winning streak of 14. It was the program's longest winning streak since 2019 (16).
Right in her wheelhouse
Ellie Wheeler has 53 kills in Bentley's last four outings, averaging 3.12 kills per set during that stretch.
The dynamic Murphy
Ingrid Murphy is one of only three players in the NE10 averaging more then 2.50 kills per set and more than 3.20 digs per set. She enters the weekend with averages of 2.56 and 3.23, respectively.
Service with a smile
Bentley's is the nation's second-best serving team, averaging 2.65 aces per set. Five Falcons rank top-10 in the NE10 for service aces per set. Ingrid Murphy ranks fifth (0.52), followed by Jazzy Burke (7th, 0.51), Elliet Manning (8th, 0.47), Lauren Hallas and Natalie Thom (10th, 0.42 each).
The blossoming Blinn
Elizabeth Blinn's 1.28 blocks per set ranks second in the NE10 and 9th in the nation. She has 13 total blocks in her last two contests (1.63 blocks per set).
Scouting Adelphi (22-5, 9-1 NE10)
The first-place Panthers rank second in the NE10 for hitting percentage (.229). Noelle Alberda has the third-most kills in the conference (251), and Jamie Yonker leads all NE10 players in digs (449). Kambel Fister (8.98 assists per set) and Brenna Valstead (8.60 assists per set) have been near even in setting up attacks. Adelphi enters the weekend with a 12-match winning streak. Its last loss was against American International, 3-1 (Sept. 30).
Scouting Pace (13-9, 4-6 NE10)
The Setters enter the weekend with three losses in their last four outings. The team ranks second in the conference for assists per set (11.66). Brielle Jones ranks third in the NE10 for kills per set (3.20), while Yasmeen Muhammad has the fifth-best attack percentage (.337). Muhammad also leads the team in blocks per set (0.94).