Garden City, N.Y. - Inside an electric Center for Recreation and Sports, the Adelphi University volleyball team outlasted Bentley University after five sets to earn the Northeast-10 Regular Season title and the top-seed ahead of next week's championship. 

This is the first time the program has won the regular season crown since 2015, which is also the last time the Panthers won the tournament title, the program's third. 

The victory for the Panthers (23-5, 10-1 NE10) was helped largely by a career performance from Noelle Alberda, who recorded a match-high 25 kills. This marks the seventh time in the last eight games that Alberda has contributed double-digit scoring as the squad extends its win streak to 13. 

Adelphi came out firing on all cylinders, leading the Falcons (20-5, 8-2 NE10) by 11 at 20-9 in the opening set. The visiting team clawed back to be within seven, but a four-point run put the hosts at set point. Bentley maintained a narrow lead throughout the second, ultimately taking the set and evening the match at one-all. 

Down three in the third, a Jamaya Harris service ace knotted the game at 9-9 but three straight kills from the Falcons' Ingrid Murphy kept the home team at bay. A service error, coupled with three consecutive attack errors from Bentley saw Adelphi up two, as they closed the door with kills from Alberda and Delaney Kiendra to steal the set. 

Both teams collected 14 kills each in the fourth set, which was decided by two points. Despite coming within one on an ace from Jaydin Nowak, Bentley forced a fifth frame with the final swing. 

With a 4-4 tie, momentum shifted after a pair of miscues from the Falcons, and Jamaya Harris chipped in an ace that caused an eruption inside the gym. The switch of sides came from a Bentley service error and a huge stop at the net from Kiendra and Alberda all but sent the visitors packing. Another pair of errors gave Adelphi match point, but the Falcons battled with three straight points to come within two. To seal the deal, Brenna Valsted found Kiendra to end the night. 

Looking at the history of these two programs, Bentley holds a 12-11 overall record against the Panthers, who have won on five occasions when the match has gone to five sets. Head Coach Danielle MacKnight recorded her 100th win in a five-set thriller against Bentley in the 2010 campaign. 

Adelphi awaits their opponent for the first round of the playoffs, as the regular season concludes for the conference on Saturday. A full bracket and details about the 2023 Championship will be available at aupanthers.com, northeast10.org and on social media. Quarterfinal action will begin Tuesday, Nov. 14.