WALTHAM, Mass. -- Freshman Ashley Ahearn (Marshfield/Marshfield HS) put down a team-best 11 kills and senior Alaura Berry (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS) hit .364 with eight kills, no errors and six blocks as Bentley University registered a 3-0 win over Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 Conference women's volleyball Wednesday night at the Dana Center. Scores were 30-28, 25-16 and 25-20.

While the Falcons won in straight sets, the match wasn't that easy. That was particularly true in the first when Bentley trailed 24-22. Two Hawk attack errors, with the second blocked by sophomore Bridget Lawson (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West HS) and senior Kelly Mee (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North HS), evened the score and Bentley came back to take the set.

A kill by senior Andrea Farah (Miami, Fla./Palmer Trinity HS) put Bentley up 29-28, and a block by Farah and Berry ended the lengthy set.

Bentley comfortably took the second set but faced another battle in the third. The visiting Hawks were within two at 21-19 before the Falcons finished the match strong with two Berry block assists and two Ahearn kills contributing to a match-ending 5-1 surge.

Ahearn and Berry were followed in the kill department by senior Morgan O'Laughlin (Hollister, Calif./San Benito HS) and Lawson, with eight and seven, respectively. Mee finished with 30 assists, six digs and four blocks, and Lawson also had five blocks. Senior libero Maitlyn Kraft (New Braunfels, Texas/St. Mary's Hall) led Bentley with 16 digs, 10 of which came in the opening set.

Freshman Charlotte Tencza (Greenfield) led Saint Anselm (1-11, 0-7 NE-10) with 12 kills and 10 digs, and junior Rachel Flaherty (Cold Spring, N.Y.) matched Mee in assists.

After playing at home for the first time in nine matches, Bentley (11-11, 4-3 NE-10) will be back on the road this weekend with matches at Adelphi University Friday and Pace University Saturday.

Bentley def. Saint Anselm 30-28,25-16,25-20

Saint Anselm (1-11, 0-7 NE-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Charlotte Tencza 12-4-0; Samantha Elliott 7-0-3; Kylie Kozlowski 6-2-0; Lauren Ross 5-0-1; Kyla Gustavson 3-0-0; Bridget Hart 1-0-1; Rachel Flaherty 1-0-1; Totals 35-6-4.0. (Assists) - Rachel Flaherty 30. (Dig leaders) - Margaret Tereschuk 12; Charlotte Tencza 10; Rachel Flaherty 10

Bentley (11-11, 4-3 NE-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ashley Ahearn 11-0-1; Morgan O'Laughlin 8-1-2; Alaura Berry 8-0-6; Bridget Lawson 7-0-5; Andrea Farah 5-0-1; Kelly Mee 3-0-4; Virginia Wong 1-1-1; Maitlyn Kraft 0-2-0; Totals 43-4-12.0. (Assists) - Kelly Mee 30. (Dig leaders) - Maitlyn Kraft 16; Morgan O'Laughlin 11; Virginia Wong 10

Site: Waltham, Mass. (Dana Center)

Date: 10/13/10       Attend: 78   Time: 1:15   

Referees: James Crandall, Paul Santos