WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University sophomore Kelsey Buckner (San Marino, Calif./San Marino HS) and freshman teammate Jaci Buscher (Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain HS) each posted double-doubles, combining for 27 kills and 23 digs in the Falcons' 3-1 loss to Dowling College Friday night at the Dana Center. Scores for the opening match of the Northeast-10/East Coast Conference Volleyball Challenge were 18-25, 25-22, 25-23 and 25-18.

Buckner finished with 15 kills, most by a Bentley player this season, and 12 digs while Buscher posted 12 of each. Sophomore Tatiana Froehlich (Newton/Newton North HS) followed with nine kills and also contributed five blocks and two aces.

Freshman setter Kyana Miller (San Diego, Calif./Canyon Crest Acad.) amassed a career-best 40 assists while also providing three kills, two aces and three blocks, and senior co-captain Grace Conner (Santa Barbara, Calif./San Marcos HS) had a hand in eight of the team's 12 blocks, establishing a new career-high.

The night started out on a strong note with Bentley never trailing in the opening set. A kill from sophomore Simone Silvera (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook HS) put the Falcons up 2-1 and the Falcons never relinquished the lead. Silvera's totals included three aces and three blocks.

Dowling (8-3) battled back to take the next two sets after trailing the second 16-11 and the third 16-12. The Lions closed the second with a 7-3 spurt and picked up the final two points in the third after the set was tied at 23-23.

The Falcons were within two at 19-17 in the fourth before Dowling embarked on five unanswered, including three on aces by freshman Kayla Dillman (Rochester, N.Y.), to take control.

Senior Bethany Shepard (Lakewood, Colo.), a former high school teammate of Buscher, powered Dowling with 15 kills and 11 digs, and Dillman finished with 38 assists and seven aces.

The tournament continues on Saturday with Bentley (2-8) facing Mercy College at 10 am and LIU Post at 3 pm.