WALTHAM, Mass. – Backed by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Player of the Week, the Bentley volleyball team heads to New Haven Friday, Oct. 16, to take on Southern Connecticut at 5 p.m.
 
Elite company
This week Sophia Poehlein became the third Falcon in program history to earn AVCA Player of the Week (Anne Marie Flynn 1998; Katie Kardinal 1995). Poehlein totaled 37 kills through seven sets last week. She had 22 kills when Bentley handed American International its second loss of the season (Oct. 6). Following that four-set road win, Poehlein finished with 15 kills in a three-set victory over Pace at home (Oct. 10). Poehlein hit over .400 in each match. She was also named the Northeast 10 Player of the Week for her efforts. Poehlein ranks fourth in the NE10 for kills per set (3.31) this season.
 
Conference honors
Four Falcons have earned NE10 weekly honors this season. In addition to Sophia Poehlein's recent NE10 Player of the Week nod, Tory Vitko has twice been named the NE10 Setter of the Week (Oct. 5, Sept. 21), Yasmin Tonon earned NE10 Rookie of the Week (Oct. 5), and Aaliyah Price Gooden was also NE10 Rookie of the Week (Sept. 14).
 
The streaks
Bentley heads to Connecticut with 13 consecutive wins, 39 consecutive wins against regional opponents, and five consecutive wins against Southern Connecticut. The Owls' last win over the Falcons was in the 2022 NE10 Quarterfinals. Bentley beat SCSU in four sets in last year's NE10 Semifinals.
 
Ever efficient
Lulu Pavan put away 11 kills while hitting a career-high .846 during Bentley's sweep over Pace (Oct. 10). The Bentley record (min. 10 attempts) for best hitting percentage in a match is 1.000, achieved by Kris Kane (10-0-10) against St. Rose in 1996. Pavan's 2.61 kills per set rank ninth in the conference this season.
 
Good for Gooden
Aaliyah Price Gooden continues to lead the NE10 in blocks per set (1.14). The freshman recently had five blocks in the three-set win over Pace (Oct. 10).
 
Vitko's double-doubles
Tory Vitko has four double-doubles this season, the most recent of which was during Bentley's four-set win at American International (Oct. 6). She had 39 assists and 11 digs in that contest. Vitko ranks third in the NE10 for assists per set (9.19).
 
Scouting Southern Connecticut (13-5, 2-1 NE10)
The Owls rank among the conference's top two teams in several categories. They are second in hitting percentage (.227), first in opponent hitting percentage (.124), first in blocks per set (2.17), and second in kills per set (12.83). Kerrigan Habing averages 3.20 kills per set, good for fifth in the NE10. Kimberli Mitchell is second in the conference for assists per set (9.25), and Sydney Bennett is second in blocks per set (1.05).