Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
WALTHAM, Mass. – Backed by a career-high 17 kills fromCaitlin Wunder, and outstanding play by a couple of freshmen, the Bentley volleyball team finished the Sandy Hoffman Memorial Tournament with wins over Daemen and New Haven Saturday afternoon.
 
The Falcons dominated the rematch of the 2023 NCAA East Regional Championship by sweeping Daemen (25-20, 25-15, 25-21) in the Falcons' first match Saturday.

A freshman duo helped propel Bentley to the three-set triumph. Sophia Poehlein led all players with 12 kills, and Tory Vitko had a match-high 19 assists. As a team, Bentley posted double-digit blocks (10) for the second consecutive match. Wunder put away a season-best six blocks, and Elizabeth Blinn added five.

Bentley's passing was crisp against Daemen, as evident in the team's .236 attack percentage – a season best thus far.

After the Falcons won the first two sets, Daemen was determined to extend the match as long as possible. The Wildcats claimed a 16-10 lead in the third set – their largest advantage of the contest. However, a kill by Poehlein shifted momentum back to Bentley's favor.

From there, Blinn served Bentley to nine consecutive points – including a couple of aces. The run took the air out of Daemen's sails, and the match ended with a kill by Tory Vitko followed by a Daemen error.  
 
Bentley needed four sets to beat New Haven (17-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-22) in the team's second match Saturday – and the final contest of the Hoffman Memorial Tournament. Wunder led the way with a career-high 17 kills while attacking at a .455 clip.

The Falcons were sluggish in the first set, allowing New Haven to charge out to a 25-17 win.

The Falcons started to find their stride in the second set. Although New Haven held a 16-12 edge, a kill by Tory Vitko sparked a 7-2 run for Bentley. The Chargers answered back by taking a 22-20 lead, but Bentley wasn't about to surrender the set. Following a New Haven error, Blinn and Tory Vitko put away consecutive kills, then Blinn served up an ace, and Vitko put away the set with another kill.

Bentley allowed New Haven only one lead in the third set – an early and small margin at 5-4. From there, the Falcons never trailed again in the frame.

The Chargers appeared to be on their way to forcing a fifth set when it claimed a 7-1 lead in the fourth stanza. However, Tory Vitko once again proved to be a crucial catalyst for Bentley. A Vitko kill started a 10-1 run for Bentley to take an 11-7 lead, and the Falcons never looked back.

Tory Vitko totaled 11 kills, and her older sister – Rachel Vitko – added 10. The younger Vitko also led all players in assists with 25.

Bentley next has a couple of non-conference road games at Molloy (Sept. 20) and Queens (Sept. 21).