WALTHAM, Mass. -- Senior Erin Johnson (Centerville) put down 14 kills, including seven in a grueling 33-31 first-set victory, to lead Stonehill College to a 3-0 win over Bentley University in Northeast-10 Conference women's volleyball Tuesday night at the Dana Center.

Stonehill, which took the final two sets by identical scores of 25-17, remained unbeaten in the conference (3-0) and improved to 5-6 overall. Bentley was denied in its bid to climb over .500, falling to 6-7 overall and 3-2 NE-10.

The first set was a classic, with a total of 19 ties and 10 lead changes, and the two teams were never separated by more than four points. Bentley held an 18-14 edge, but Stonehill replied with four unanswered, and it would be tied 11 more times.

With the Falcons up 31-30, a Johnson kill evened the score and began a set-ending 3-0 run for her team. A Bentley attack error made it set point, and freshman Sydney Maxey (Hutto, Texas) put the set in the Stonehill column with a kill.

Stonehill took charge of the second set with a 7-0 run that opened a 21-13 lead. The surge featured two kills and a block by Maxey, and two aces by senior Anna Berthiaume (Somersworth, N.H.).

After Bentley scored the first two points of the third set, Stonehill answered with five straight and never relinquished the lead again as it closed out the match.

Sophomore Bridget Lawson (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West HS) led Bentley with eight kills and four blocks, and senior Maitlyn Kraft (New Braunfels, Texas/St. Mary's Hall) made 16 digs.

Bentley travels to northeastern Pennsylvania this weekend for three matches in the East Stroudsburg University Tournament.

Stonehill def. Bentley 33-31,25-17,25-17

Stonehill (5-6, 3-0 NE-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Erin Johnson 14-0-0; Sydney Maxey 8-0-2; Kirsten Arvidson 7-0-3; Laura Huselton 7-1-0; Anna Berthiaume 4-3-1; Laura Noonan 3-0-4; Erin Kelly 0-1-0; Justine Thompson 0-3-0; Andrea Wirth 0-1-0; Totals 43-9-5.0. (Assists) - Andrea Wirth 25; Erin Kelly 12. (Dig leaders) - Justine Thompson 16; Sydney Maxey 10; Andrea Wirth 9; Laura Huselton 8

Bentley (6-7, 3-2 NE-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Bridget Lawson 8-0-4; Morgan O'Laughlin 7-0-1; Alaura Berry 7-1-2; Andrea Farah 6-0-1; Ashley Ahearn 3-0-1; Kelly Mee 2-0-3; Kristina Wilson 0-1-0; Maitlyn Kraft 0-1-0; Totals 33-3-7.0. (Assists) - Kelly Mee 23. (Dig leaders) - Maitlyn Kraft 16; Kristina Wilson 14

Site: Waltham, Mass. (Dana Center)

Date: 09/28/10       Attend: 65   Time: 1:25   

Referees: Jeff Zinchuk, Butch McMinn