The historic Bentley team awaits a Final Four game against Lynn on Friday evening

SIOUX FALLS, SD – In Northeast 10 volleyball history, no team has advanced this far to the NCAA D-II Championship. Bentley is preparing to face Lynn in the NCAA D-II Championship Final Four on Friday, December 13th at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD. Game time is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET and can be streamed on ESPN+.

NCAA Championship homepage

Bentley entered the NCAA Elite Eight as a No. 8 seed and earned a historic victory over No. 1 seed Ferris State in five sets. In addition to being the top-ranked team in the country, Ferris State was undefeated (34-0) before facing Bentley.

Bentley newbie Sophia Poehlein had a match-high 19 kills against Ferris State and senior Rachel Vitko 16 added. Four Falcons totaled double-digit digs, led by 19 from senior libero Jazzy Burke. PhD student Caitlin Wonder scored 12 kills, marking her sixth straight match with double-digit kills.

The NCAA began reseeding for the Elite Eight in 2016, and Bentley has since become the only No. 8 seed to make it to the Final Four.

Lynn is the No. 4 seed and defeated No. 5 Wingate in an Elite Eight match on Thursday (December 12). Samantha Wolf had 19 kills and Aline Olegario had six blocks in the win.

The Fighting Knights won the program’s first NCAA South Regional title this year. The team compiled a program record five All-Americans – selected by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

Bentley and Lynn are the two best defensive teams in the Final Four. Bentley’s opponent batting average of .124 ranks seventh nationally, and Lynn’s batting average of .136 ranks 17th^Th. Bentley Junior Elizabeth Blinn ranks second nationally in blocks per set (1.47). She totaled six blocks in the win over Ferris State.