NEW CASTLE, Del. – The opening tournament of the year for the Bentley University women's volleyball team, the Wildcat Invitational at Wilmington College, concluded on Saturday with the Falcons dropping a pair of matches, 3-1 to the home team and 3-0 to West Chester University. The two losses left Bentley with a 1-3 record in the tourney.

The day started out well for the Falcons as they took the opening set against Wilmington, 3-1. However, the Wildcats rebounded to pull out the second, 25-23, and closed out the match in convincing fashion, 25-15 and 26-15.

Senior Grace Conner (Santa Barbara, Calif./San Marcos HS) and sophomore Kelsey Buckner (San Marino, Calif./San Marino HS) each had nine kills for the Falcons. Conner hit .600 in the match as she didn't have an error in her 15 swings, and she also was in on four blocks. Buckner's line also included three service aces.

Bentley also received eight kills from sophomore Tatiana Froehlich (Newton, Mass./Newton North HS) and 21 assists from freshman Kyana Miller (San Diego, Calif./Canyon Crest Acad.).

Wilmington was powered by freshman Kaitlin DiGiacinto (Glen Burnie, Mich.) and senior Nicole Wiechecki (Wilmington, Del.), who had 14 and 12 kills respectively.  The Wildcats (7-2) had a total of 13 blocks, including seven from junior Katie Shorter (Pasadena, Md.) and six by junior Brittany Biddle (Claymont, Del.).

Froehlich made eight kills and Buckner had seven in the 25-22, 25-15, 25-21 loss to West Chester. Miller had a team-best 19 assists, and sophomore Lauren Colasanti (Northville, Mich./ Northville HS) recorded 13 digs.

Bentley will open its home and Northeast-10 schedule on Tuesday with a 7 pm match against Southern Connecticut State.