Blanco Records 16 Kills And 11 Digs As Volleyball Makes League Champion Bentley Work For Outright Title In Dropping Tough 3-2 Northeast-10 Finale In Senior Night Festivities

November 8, 2005

STONEHILL VOLLEYBALL

Tuesday, November 8, 2005

Merkert Gymnasium, Easton, Mass.

FINAL:BENTLEY 3, STONEHILL 2

(Game Scores: 30-28, 27-30, 30-18, 29-31, 15-12)

EASTON, Mass.-- Sophomore Christina Sadowski (Salem, N.H.) registered 16 kills, 11 digs and six blocks as Bentley finished an undefeated league campaign by posting a 3-2 Northeast-10 Conference volleyball victory over Stonehill Tuesday evening at Merkert Gymnasium.

The visiting Falcons (25-6, 14-0 Northeast-10) had to work for their unblemished conference regular season crown, as the host Skyhawks (8-19, 5-9 Northeast-10) extended Bentley to five games for only the second time in league play this season, as the visitors took a 30-28, 27-30, 30-18, 29-31 and 15-12 decision in the match.

The Falcons trailed in each game but the third, rallying from a 26-22 first game deficit and forging a 9-9 tie in the deciding game before scoring six of the final nine points to claim the triumph. Bryant, who finished one game in back of Bentley for second place in the final conference standings, was the only other Northeast-10 foe to extend the Falcons to five games.

Freshman Becca Rector (Greenwood Village, Colo.) added 15 kills and 11 digs in the win for Bentley, which also received 14 kills and sophomore Carey Demos (Bakersfield, Calif.) as well as 59 set assists and 15 digs from freshman Tori Piskulick (San Diego, Calif.).

Senior Doree Blanco (Warwick, R.I.) closed out her career with 16 kills and 11 digs in the setback for Stonehill, while senior Kathleen Riley (Melrose, Mass.) added 10 kills and 12 digs for the hosts. Seniors Liane Kilmain (Mattapoisett, Mass.) and Mollie Babcock (Gilford, N.H.) combined for 47 set assists and 11 digs for the Skyhawks, who also received seven kills and three blocks from senior Lauren McNally (Ashland, Mass.).

Bentley earned the top-seed in this weekends Northeast-10 championships and will take on eighth-seeded and host Pace in quarterfinal round play on Friday evening in Pleasantville, N.Y. Tuesdays match was the season finale for Stonehill.