WALTHAM, Mass. -- Junior Maja Potpara (Pljevlja, Montenegro) registered a triple-double and hit a team-high .562, leading Dowling College to a three-set victory over Bentley University Friday night at the Dana Center in the opening round of the Northeast-10/East Coast Conference Volleyball Challenge.

Potpara finished with 10 kills, 22 assists and 14 digs as the Golden Lions remained perfect on the season. Dowling, yet to drop a set in 2010, improved to 6-0 with the 25-17, 25-17, 25-21 victory. Bentley fell back to .500 at 4-4.

Grad student Patrycja Klekotka (Siedice, Poland) led Dowling in kills with a dozen, and she also registered four of her team's 12 service aces. Senior Monika Kasperek (Bielsko-Biala, Poland) also served four aces and hit .500 with seven kills and no errors.

 Freshman Ashley Ahearn (Marshfield/Marshfield HS) led Bentley in kills with eight, two more than senior Alaura Berry (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS). Senior Kelly Mee (Ivyland, Pa./ Council Rock North HS) provided the assist on 22 of the Falcons' 25 kills.

In both the second and third sets, Bentley was in the match halfway through, before the Golden Lions embarked on major runs to seize control. Dowling used a 9-1 spurt in the second to turn a 13-12 deficit into a 21-14 advantage. The third was tied at 10 before an 8-2 rally gave the visitors a 18-12 lead. The Falcons closed to within 24-21 before a Klekotka kill closed out the match.

The tournament continues on Saturday with Bentley facing C.W. Post at 10 am and Queens College at 3 pm.

Dowling def. Bentley 25-17,25-17,25-21

Dowling (6-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Patrycja Klekotka 12-4-2; Maja Potpara 10-1-2; Monika Kasperek 7-4-2; Bethany Shepard 6-0-1; Janae Giles 5-0-1; Chelsea Callahan 1-0-0; Megan Futch 0-2-0; Jessica Van Wieren 0-0-3; Morgan Mutranowski 0-1-0; Totals 41-12-6.0. (Assists) - Maja Potpara 22; Erin Przybylowicz 13. (Dig leaders) - Maja Potpara 14; Bethany Shepard 7

Bentley (4-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ashley Ahearn 8-0-2; Alaura Berry 6-0-2; Grace Conner 4-0-4; Andrea Farah 4-0-1; Morgan O'Laughlin 2-0-2; Bridget Lawson 1-0-0; Kelly Mee 0-0-1; Virginia Wong 0-1-0; Totals 25-1-7.0. (Assists) - Kelly Mee 22. (Dig leaders) - Andrea Farah 9; Maitlyn Kraft 8

Site: Waltham, Mass. (Dana Center)

Date: Sep 17, 2010   Attend: 58   Time: 1:12   

Referees: Jeff Zinchuk, Roger Morrissette