WALTHAM, Mass. – The Falcons had to sweat it out for a bit, but the top-seeded Bentley volleyball team beat Bridgeport, 3-1 (23-25, 25-11, 25-15, 25-16), in the first round of the NCAA DII Championship in the Dana Athletic Center Thursday evening.

Top-seeded Bentley entered the contest with 20 consecutive wins, but #8 Bridgeport was ready for the test. Neither team led by more than three points in the opening set. The Purple Knights had a 22-19 lead, but consecutive kills by Elizabeth Blinn brought the Falcons to within a point.

A kill by Sophia Poehlein tied the first set, 23-23, but Bridgeport notched the next two points to further its hopes of pulling off the upset.

However, Bentley made the appropriate adjustments during the first break. By the time Bridgeport recorded its fifth point in the second set, Bentley already had 18.

The third set was tied up at 8-8 when Bentley went on an 8-1 run. The Falcons ended that frame with a 7-2 run. The fourth set wasn't too different from the third. Bridgeport kept it close early, trailing just 9-7. But then the Falcons went on a 9-3 run to push the lead to 17-10, and Bentley never looked back.

Poehlein led all players in kills with 17, and Blinn added 11. Blinn, the 2025 Northeast 10 Defensive Player of the Year, totaled seven blocks in four sets.

Bentley will play in the NCAA East Regional Semifinals Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. The Falcons will take on the winner of Post vs. American International.