WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Senior middle Alaura Berry (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS) turned in an outstanding day of hitting, but despite her efforts, the Bentley University women's volleyball team dropped a pair of matches in the Pepsi Bash at the Beach Saturday afternoon at Palm Beach Atlantic's Rubin Arena.

The Falcons, who opened the tournament with wins over Ohio Valley and Ave Maria on Friday, lost to Palm Beach Atlantic, 3-0, and fell to Flagler College by the same score. The PBA Sailfish (14-3) prevailed 25-19, 25-23 and 25-22, and the Flagler Saints (16-5) ran their winning streak to five with scores of 25-15, 25-20 and 28-26.

Berry, in the two matches, hit a lofty .571 while leading Bentley in kills in both matches. She had 13 kills and no errors in 20 opportunities against Palm Beach Atlantic and 14 kills and three errors in 22 swings against Flagler. For the tourney, she averaged 4.08 kills with a .538 hitting percentage.

Both of the final two sets against Palm Beach Atlantic were tied late, the second at 23-23 and the third at 19, before the Sailfish pulled each out.

In that match for the Falcons, senior setter Kelly Mee (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North HS) registered 37 assists, senior Maitlyn Kraft (New Braunfels, Texas/St. Mary's Hall) made 16 digs and Andrea Farah (Miami, Fla./Palmer Trinity HS), another senior, had 11 kills.

It was a team effort for Palm Beach Atlantic, which had six players record at least five kills. Freshman Christina Alessi (West Palm Beach, Fla.) led the way with 11 and a .474 hitting percentage.

Against Flagler, Bentley had its best opportunity to win a set in the third, holding a 24-20 lead before the Saints rallied for five straight points to go up one. The Falcons twice tied the match after that before Flagler used kills by sophomore Dianne Craine (Oshawa, Ont.) and senior Meg Weathersby (Maitland, Fla.) to end the match. It was the 17th kill for Weathersby, who hit an impressive .516.

Bentley will be back at home Wednesday night for a 7 pm Northeast-10 match against Saint Anselm.

Palm Beach Atlantic def. Bentley 25-19,25-23,25-22

Bentley (10-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Alaura Berry 13-0-0; Andrea Farah 11-1-0; Bridget Lawson 8-0-1; Morgan O'Laughlin 6-0-0; Ashley Ahearn 3-0-1; Kristina Wilson 1-2-0; Totals 42-3-1.0. (Assists) - Kelly Mee 37. (Dig leaders) - Maitlyn Kraft 16; Andrea Farah 7

Palm Beach Atlantic (14-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Christina Alessi 11-0-3; Jennifer Eldridge 9-0-2; Janeen McCormick 7-0-4; Kristin Carroll 7-0-0; Jessica Way 6-0-2; Paige Mitchell 5-0-2; Jesse Kubiak 0-1-0; Totals 45-1-7.0. (Assists) - Jessica Way 36. (Dig leaders) - Allie Warren 15; Jesse Kubiak 11; Jennifer Eldridge 9

Site: West Palm Beach, Fla (Rubin Arena)

Date: 10/09/10       Attend: 135   Time: 1:15

Flagler def. Bentley 25-15,25-20,28-26

Bentley (10-11) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Alaura Berry 14-0-2; Ashley  Ahearn 8-0-0; Andrea Farah 7-1-0; Bridget Lawson 4-0-1; Morgan O'Laughlin 2-0-0; Kristina Wilson 1-1-0; Kelly Mee 0-1-1; Totals 36-3-3.0. (Assists) - Kelly Mee 26. (Dig leaders) - Andrea Farah 7; Maitlyn Kraft 6

Flagler (16-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Meg Weathersby 17-3-2; Rachel Stacy 8-4-0; Laura B. Lancaster 7-1-1; Dianna Craine 7-0-0; Sophie Meyer 4-0-0; Rebecca Royal 2-0-0; Olivia Snipes 0-1-0; Totals 45-9-2.0. (Assists) - Olivia Snipes 20; Rebecca Royal 18. (Dig leaders) - Olivia Snipes 6; Jillian Unitas 5

Site: West Palm Beach, Fla (Rubin Arena)

Date: 10/09/10       Attend: 57   Time: 1:09   

Referees: Steven Dalton, Kim Kelly

Pepsi Bash at the Beach