FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Bentley University women's volleyball team completed its season-opening trip to the Sunshine State with an 0-4 record after dropping a pair of matches Saturday during day two of the Nova Southeastern University Shark Invitational at the NSU Arena.

Bentley was blanked by Rockhurst, the 11th-ranked team in Division II, in three sets, 25-13, 25-16 and 25-20, before dropping a 3-1 decision to the undefeated (3-0) host team. The Falcons took the opening set, 25-20, but the next three belonged to Nova, 25-8, 27-25 and 25-18.

Freshman right side Dani Milner (Plano, Texas/Greenhill School) led Bentley in kills in both matches, with eight against Rockhurst and 11 against the Sharks.

Bentley's only set win of the day came in the opener against Nova. Five straight points, including two aces by junior Celia Cristofoli (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson HS), put the Falcons in front to stay at 14-11. It grew to an 11-3 run with the set ending on consecutive errors by the Sharks. Milner had four kills in nine chances during the set.

In the pivotal third set, Bentley held a 24-22 lead after a kill from freshman middle Rachel Bruno (San Diego, Calif./Frances Parker HS). Three straight kills by Nova, including two from sophomore outside hitter Denvyr Tyler-Palmer (Jacksonville, Fla.), gave the Sharks a 25-24 advantage before the Falcons tied it up at 25-25. Another kill by Tyler-Palmer put the home team back in front and it ended on a setting error.

Tyler-Palmer led Nova with 16 kills and 12 digs. Senior Katie Pyles (Highlands, Colo.) amassed 46 assists, 14 digs and three blocks, and sophomore Megan Burns (Sylvania, Ohio) made 23 digs.

Milner led the Falcons with 11 kills and 13 digs, and sophomore setter Krista Campbell (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North HS) provided 23 assists and 11 digs.

In the opener, after trailing 10-9, Rockhurst grabbed the first set with a 16-3 burst. The Hawks jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the second after running ten straight points and they started the third with a 7-3 spurt.

Milner (13 digs) and Bruno each had eight kills with Bruno also making five blocks for the Falcons.

Freshman outside hitter Alyssa Woodman (Omaha, Neb.) put down 15 kills for Rockhurst, and senior Morgan Rietzke (Kansas City, Mo.) followed with 14, along with 14 digs and a .467 hitting percentage.

Next Friday and Saturday, Bentley will be in New Jersey for the Georgian Court University Invitational.