COLCHESTER, Vt.  – Junior McKenna Buck (Renton, Wash./Holy Names Acad.) and freshman Rachel Bruno (San Diego, Calif./Frances Parker HS) both established career-bests, combining for 27 kills and 11 blocks as the Bentley University women's volleyball team opened its Northeast-10 Conference schedule on a winning note Sunday afternoon.

In the 3-1 win over St. Michael's College at the Ross Sports Center, Bentley prevailed by scores of 25-15, 25-16, 27-29 and 25-18.  During the match, the Falcons set season-bests in both digs (91) and blocks (12).

Buck hit .600 in the victory with a career-best 12 kills and no errors in 20 swings. She also helped the defense with six blocks. Bruno led the Falcons with 15 kills while hitting .316, and also contributed five blocks and six digs.

A number of others also contributed to the road victory, including senior setter Allie Rotkin (Cumming, Ga./Milton HS) with 42 assists  and 11 digs. Junior libero Celia Cristofoli (Hudson, Ohio/ Hudson HS) provided 27 digs and four aces, and both senior Lauren Van Buren (Massapequa Park, N.Y./ Massapequa HS) and junior Shannon Kelly (Hyde Park, N.Y./Franklin D. Roosevelt HS) finished with 19 digs and nine kills.

After winning the first two sets handily, Bentley seemed headed for a sweep, leading the third set 24-17 before the Purple Knights (2-4, 0-2 NE-10) came storming back. The home team reeled off seven straight points to even the score and closed with a 12-3 burst to stay alive.

St. Michael's also went on a run in the fourth, scoring six straight to go up 16-13 before the Falcons countered with eight in a row to reclaim control. That spurt, done primarily with Rotkin on the serve, included two kills by Van Buren and a Buck block.

After placing 14 straight matches away from home to start the season, Bentley (3-11) will finally play in the Dana Center Tuesday, hosting Merrimack College at 7 pm.