Celia Cristofoli
Celia Cristofoli

Franklin Pierce Tops Bentley in 4

WALTHAM, Mass. – Freshman outside hitter Katie Leidhold (Acushnet) posted 17 kills and 16 digs, leading Franklin Pierce University to a 3-1 victory over Bentley University in Northeast-10 Conference women's volleyball Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center. The scores were 25-9, 25-21, 22-25 and 25-20.

It was the second straight loss for Bentley, which had an eight-match winning streak ended by the University of Bridgeport Friday night. The Falcons slipped to 9-6 overall and 2-1 NE-10 while the Ravens improved to 9-5 overall and 3-0 conference with the victory.

Bentley was there at the end of the second set, trailing by just two at 23-21. However, a ball handling error and an attack error enabled the Ravens to grab a commanding 2-0 lead in the match. Leidhold was instrumental in both those sets with three aces in the first (including one to end it) and six kills in the second.

The third set was tied at 22 apiece before Bentley claimed the final three points to stay alive. Sophomore McKenna Buck (Renton, Wash./Holy Names HS) had a block to put the Falcons in front and combined with junior setter Allie Rotkin (Cumming, Ga./Milton HS) for another. Set point came on a kill put down by Rotkin as she called her own number.

Bentley had a 20-19 lead in the fourth set before Franklin Pierce closed with a 6-0 burst, half of those points coming on Leidhold kills.

Sophomore outside hitter Shannon Kelly (Hyde Park, N.Y./Franklin D. Roosevelt HS) led Bentley with ten kills and senior Shelby Kreienberg (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon HS) followed with eight. Rotkin provided 20 assists in relief, senior Jessica Segal (West Harrison, N.Y./Harrison HS) served three aces and sophomore Celia Cristofoli (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson HS) was one of three Falcons in double figures in digs, finishing with 17.   Buck also contributed off the bench, making six blocks.

Bentley returns to action Tuesday night at Stonehill.