WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley volleyball team prepares for four matches this week, starting with a Northeast-10 contest at Assumption Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. The Falcons then head to New York for a non-conference match at Mercy Thursday, Oct. 24. Bentley finally returns home for a tri-match Saturday, Oct. 26.
 
Getting defensive
Bentley is holding opponents to a .128 hitting percentage, which ranks 13^th in the nation and first in the NE10. Fittingly, the Falcons also rank 13^th in the nation for blocks per set (2.58) – another mark that leads the conference.
 
Blinn beasts with blocks
Elizabeth Blinn's 1.41 blocks per set ranks seventh in all of NCAA D-II. She has totaled at least nine blocks in eight matches this fall. Blinn became the first Falcon in 21 years to reach 12 blocks in a match when she hit the mark against Lewis earlier this season (Sept. 21). What's more, Blinn's .348 hitting percentage is sixth in the NE10, and her 0.60 aces per set ranks third.
 
Double threes
Freshman setter Tory Vitko needed only three sets to reach a season-high 33 assists when Bentley swept Southern Connecticut in New Haven last week (Oct. 18). It was her third match with at least 30 assists.
             
So far, Sophia good
Freshman Sophia Poehlein remains among the conference's top 10 players for kills her per set, as her 2.79 mark ranks eighth. Poehlein has posted 10+ kills in six matches this season.
 
Tri-match details
Bentley hosts Wilmington (Del.) and Southern New Hampshire (non-conference) during a tri-match in the Dana Center Saturday, Oct. 26. The Falcons take on Wilmington at 11 a.m., and they're scheduled for the SNHU match at 3 p.m.
 
Scouting Mercy Assumption (6-11, 1-3 NE10)
The Greyhounds are hitting just .133 this season, the second-worst mark in the NE10. Opponents are hitting .213 against Assumption.  Assumption's most recent match was a 3-0 win over Southern New Hampshire (Oct. 19). Assumption lost its previous two matches, against Adelphi and Southern Connecticut, by a combined score of 6-1. Carly Goodhue leads the team is kills per set (2.35), and is closely followed by Alexis Distasio.
 
Scouting Mercy (9-5, 3-3 ECC)
The Mustangs have a three-match winning streak, and they have won four of their last five outings. The team is attacking at a remarkable .247 clip, which ranks just inside the top 30 in all of NCAA D-II. Julia Pomerleau's .465 hitting percentage leads the nation. Mercy takes on New Haven (Oct. 22) before hosting Bentley.