WALTHAM, Mass. – The Northeast 10 Volleyball Championship returns to Waltham, and Bentley has a title to defend. The NE10 Semifinals are Friday, Nov. 13, starting with the top-seeded Falcons against #4 Southern Connecticut at 5 p.m. Later that evening, #2 American International takes on #3 Adelphi. The NE10 Championship match is Saturday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. in the Dana Athletics Center.

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The Falcons posted a perfect 9-0 NE10 record (21-6 overall) for the second consecutive season, earning the right to defend their 2025 NE10 tournament title on their home court.

Bentley is led by juniors Sophia Poehlein and Tory Vitko, both of whom recently received top All-NE10 honors. Poehlein was named the NE10 Player of the Year, becoming the first Falcon since 2007 to earn the distinction (Christina Sadowski). Vitko was named the NE10 Setter of the Year for the second consecutive year. She is the first Falcon in program history to earn NE10 Setter of the Year in consecutive seasons.

Lulu Pavan joined Poehlein and Vitko on the All-NE10 First Team, while Yasmin Tonon and Aaliyah Price Gooden were both placed on the NE10 All-Rookie Team. Tonon also earned All-NE10 Third Team.

Joey Pacis was named the NE10 Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, and for the fifth time in his Bentley tenure.

The Falcons enter the postseason with 20 consecutive wins, only one of which went five sets (vs. D'Youville, Sept. 12). The winning streak started Sept. 5 with a 3-0 triumph over Regis in the Colorado Premier Challenge.

Bentley's other notable winning streak is against East Region teams – 46 consecutive wins dating back to the 2024 season.

Bentley beat Southern Connecticut, 3-1, in New Haven earlier this season (Oct. 16). Tonon notched her first career double-double with 12 digs and a season-high 15 kills. Vitko also recorded a double-double with 45 assists and 10 digs, and Poehlein added 12 kills in the winning effort.

The Falcons also beat AIC in four sets on the road this season (Oct. 6). Poehlein totaled 22 kills, one shy of matching her career high. Vitko claimed her fourth double-double of the season with 39 assists and 10 digs.

The fourth NE10 semifinalist – Adelphi – also lost to Bentley in four sets this season in Waltham (Oct. 3). Three Falcons reached double-digit kills in that win: Poehlein (20), Pavan (10), Tonon (10). Vitko amassed 36 assists and 11 digs for one of her six double-doubles this season.

All four teams remaining in the NE10 Championship were also NE10 semifinalists last year. In 2025, Bentley beat SCSU in four sets in the NE10 Semifinals, while AIC swept Adelphi. The Falcons beat the Yellow Jackets in the championship match, 3-1, to claim Bentley's first NE10 tournament title since 2019.