FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Northeast-10 Volleyball Championship Central

MANSFIELD, Mass. - The top four seeds in this year's Northeast-10 Conference Championship all held serve and advanced to the semifinal round with wins tonight during Quarterfinal Round action.

#1 New Haven 3, #8 Franklin Pierce 0

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Although they've struggled as of late, New Haven served notice that the Northeast-10 Volleyball Championship once again runs through coastal Connecticut, as they defeated the eighth-seeded Ravens in straight sets earlier tonight.

All Conference First Team selection Kristy Atufunwa led the Chargers' attack with 12 kills and four blocks in the win.  With the win, New Haven, as the top seed, now earns the right to host the NE-10 Semifinal and Final rounds. Those matches will take place this coming Friday and Saturday. 

#2 Stonehill 3, #7 Southern New Hampshire 1

EASTON, Mass. - Behind 22 kills from First Team selection Delia Phillips, pictured, the second-seeded Skyhawks knocked off Southern New Hampshire at Merkert Gymnasium.  Stonehill took the first and second set, but the Penmen battled back to win the third set.  

The fourth set was back and forth, but ultimately, it was the Skyhawks advancing behind a 27-25 fourth set win. None of the four sets in the match was decided by more then three points in the hotly-contested match.  Stonehill will now face Bentley in the semifinal round Friday night at New Haven.

#3 Bentley 3, #6 Merrimack 2

WALTHAM, Mass. - Sixth-seeded Merrimack gave third-seeded Bentley everything they wanted and then some, but the Falcons were able to pull out a fifth-set victory to advance to the NE-10 Semifinal Round on Friday.

Merrimack won the first set, but Bentley would go on to win sets two and three.  The Warriors, however, won the fourth set to extend the match to a deciding fifth set. Bentley, behind a balanced attack, won the fifth set 15-7, and the Falcons will now take on Stonehill in one semifinal match Friday night at New Haven.

#4 Adelphi 3, #5 Saint Rose 1

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - Adelphi ended a five-match losing streak as they knocked off Saint Rose in the Quarterfinal Round of the NE-10 Championships tonight.  The Panthers dropped the first set to the Golden Knights, but then hit their stride, rolling in the next three sets to advance to the semifinal round.

Adelphi will take on New Haven in the Semifinals, and that match will take place Friday evening at Charger Gymnasium on New Haven's campus. 

Additional information provided by Merrimack College and Stonehill College athletic communications

Northeast-10 Championship Volleyball Schedule ­

Tuesday, November 11 - Quarterfinals
Match 1: #1 New Haven 3, #8 Franklin Pierce 0 
Match 2: #4 Adelphi 3 #5 Saint Rose 1
Match 3: #2 Stonehill 3 #7 Southern New Hampshire 1
Match 4: #3 Bentley 3, #6 Merrimack 2

Friday, November 14 - Semifinals
Game times of 5:00 PM & 7:30 PM (hosted by New Haven)
Match 5: #4 Adelphi at #1 New Haven
Match 6: #3 Bentley at #2 Stonehill

Saturday, November 15 - Finals
Match 7: Match 5 Winner vs. Match 6 Winner ­ 5:00 p.m. (hosted by New Haven)

*Semifinals/Final – at The University of New Haven

The Northeast-10 Conference is an association of 15 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,000 student-athletes.

Each year, 4,000 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 23 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.

– #NE10 –