NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Freshman setter Alex Tator (Los Angeles, Calif./Marlborough School) provided 46 assists, helping three teammates reach double-figures in kills, and had five kills herself as Bentley University bested Merrimack College, 3-1, in Northeast-10 Conference women's volleyball Tuesday night at the Volpe Center.

The 25-16, 23-25, 25-15, 25-23 victory was the third straight for the Falcons, boosting the squad into fifth place in the NE-10.

Freshmen Savannah Dominguez (Miami, Fla./Palmer Trinity HS) and Kelsey Buckner (San Marino, Calif./San Marino HS) each had 13 kills for the Falcons, with Dominguez hitting .423 and Buckner recording 13 digs for her ninth double-double (and third straight). Sophomore Ashley Ahearn (Marshfield/Marshfield HS) followed with 11 kills, and junior Grace Conner (Santa Barbara, Calif./San Marcos HS) hit .467 with eight kills.

Two aces from freshman Jennifer Segar (Mendon, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy HS), in the midst of an early 6-0 run, put Bentley in front in the opening set and a 7-0 run, most accomplished with Buckner serving, broke the set open at 17-9.

After the Warriors held off the Falcons to take the second set, Bentley rebounded with a convincing effort the third.  Buckner had five of her kills in that one, and the Falcons hit an impressive .469 while leading from the set's opening point.

In the fourth, Bentley trailed 20-19 before reeling off four straight points.  Senior captain Virginia Wong (Quincy/North Quincy HS) had a tying kill, Ahearn put the Falcons in front with a successful attack, and Dominguez made it 23-20 with a kill and a block.  Merrimack got back within one twice, but a serving error by the Warriors ended the match.

Wong hit .667 with six kills and no errors in nine swings, and also provided 10 digs.

Freshman Stephanie Sheehan (Smithtown, N.Y.) led Merrimack (3-18, 0-9 NE-10) with 17 kills and a .429 hitting percentage.

Bentley (11-10, 6-3 NE-10) will be back at home this weekend for matches against Pace University Friday evening and Adelphi University Saturday afternoon, the latter being the program's "Dig Pink" day.