SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Freshman duo Sophia Poehlein and Tory Vitko was outstanding, but the Bentley volleyball team fell short at American International in a five-set battle (25-23, 23-25, 25-25-22, 15-25, 15-11) Tuesday night.

Poehlein came away with a season-high 19 kills, surpassing her previous high of 16 (vs. East Central, Sept. 6). Vitko, who Monday was named both the Northeast-10 Setter of the Week and Northeast-10 Rookie of the Week, posted a season-high 48 assists. Her previous season-high was 44 at Assumption last week (Oct. 22). Vitko has the most assists in a match for Bentley since Nov. 2021.

Rachel Vitko added 15 kills for Bentley, and Caitlin Wunder finished with 10.

Bentley, which has one of the nation's leading defenses, held AIC to a .140 hitting percentage. Four Falcons had double-digit digs, led by Jazzy Burke's 19. Erica Borzone had 15 digs, followed by Tory Vitko (11) and Poehlein (10).

Elizabeth Blinn entered the match ranked fifth in the nation for blocks per set (1.42). She totaled six blocks against the Yellow Jackets, and added nine kills.
AIC began the match by narrowly winning the first set, 25-23. Bentley held the largest lead of the frame – four points – a couple times. One of those leads was at 15-11. A kill from Rachel Vitko kept the Falcons ahead, 17-14, but AIC went on a 4-0 run to take a one-point lead.

The set was tied, 23-23, before AIC won consecutive points.

Bentley answered right back by winning the second set by a familiar score, 25-23. AIC held an 18-16 lead, but a Yellow Jacket error started a 7-0 run for Bentley, allowing the Falcons to take a 23-18 edge. Poehlein had three kills during the run, and the Falcons didn't relinquish the lead for the rest of the set.

AIC won another set in the third, 25-22. However, momentum shifted to Bentley when it won the fourth set in dominant fashion 25-15.

AIC began the decisive fifth set with service, and it quickly gained a 5-2 lead. A couple of Bentley errors allowed for the Yellow Jackets to have the early lead. A kill by Wunder briefly slowed AIC, but then the Yellow Jackets notched four of the next five points to take a 9-3 lead. Bentley could close that gap to only three points, 14-11, before it was over.

The Falcons return home Saturday, Nov. 2, to host Pace at 1 p.m.