Kyana Miller
Kyana Miller

Bentley Falls to Saint Rose in Four despite Miller’s Efforts

WALTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore libero Katy Daniels (South Hadley) made 27 digs and served three aces as the College of Saint Rose overcame a first-set loss to top Bentley University, 3-1, in Northeast-10 Conference women's volleyball Friday night at the Dana Center.

Bentley took the opening set by the count of 25-19, but saw the Golden Knights prevail in the next three by similar scores (25-18, 25-19, 25-18).

Sophomore setter Kyana Miller (San Diego, Calif./Canyon Crest Acad.) led the Falcons  as she filled the stat sheet with 36 assists, four service aces, six digs, two blocks and a kill. She was particularly effective in the opening set when she recorded 13 assists and served three aces.

Sophomore Kelsey Buckner (San Marino, Calif./San Marino HS) recorded her fifth double-double of the season for Bentley, finishing with 11 kills and 13 digs, and senior Grace Conner (Santa Barbara, Calif./San Marcos HS) hit a team-best .350 with 10 kills and three errors in 20 swings.

Bentley took charge of the opening set with a 9-1 spurt that extended a one-point lead to a commanding 21-12. Three different Falcons had kills during that run, and Miller picked up two of her aces over that stretch. Kills by Conner and Buckner closed out the set.

Saint Rose finished the second set by scoring the last five points and led by as many as nine several times in the third. In the fourth, the Golden Knights closed with a 12-6 spurt to lock up the victory.

Freshman Kelsey Lace (Glendale, R.I.) had a team-best 12 kills for Saint Rose (10-8, 3-4 NE-10), and six-foot junior Alex Gagliano (Cornwall, N.Y.) was involved in nine of her team's 14 blocks.

Bentley (8-15, 3-5) will be back on the Dana Center court at 1 pm Saturday to take on Le Moyne College.