Rachel Bruno (c) and Xio Lopp with Mari Boyer (13)
Rachel Bruno (c) and Xio Lopp with Mari Boyer (13)

Bruno Helps Bentley Sweep Southern New Hampshire

WALTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore middle hitter Rachel Bruno (San Diego, Calif./Frances Parker HS) impressed on both sides of the net, finishing with seven blocks and a .462 hitting percentage, as Bentley University swept Southern New Hampshire in Northeast-10 Conference women's volleyball Friday night at the Dana Center. The scores were 25-18, 25-18 and 25-17.

The win, Bentley's fifth in its last six matches, boosted the Falcons to 10-5 overall and 3-1 NE10. Southern New Hampshire, held to a .043 hitting percentage, dropped to 3-8 overall and 0-3 conference.

The third set was the only one in which Bentley didn't lead from the opening point. The Penmen picked up the first three points and led 12-11 before the Falcons took charge with a 9-2 spurt. That included three kills from sophomore outside hitter Mari Boyer (Arvada, Colo./Bloomfield HS), who tied her career-best with seven.

The opening set featured 12 assists and four digs from sophomore setter Xio Lopp (Kalispell, Mont./Flathead HS) and five kills, along with the same number of digs, from sophomore outside hitter Dani Milner (Plano, Texas/The Greenhill School).

Bruno had three kills, in five swings, in the second set, along with four blocks. She finished the match with seven kills and a pair of aces.

Milner posted her ninth double-double, with 11 kills and 10 digs, and senior libero Celia Cristofoli (Fort Collins, Colo./Hudson (Ohio) HS) made 18 digs. Senior outside hitter Shannon Kelly (Hyde Park, N.Y./Franklin D. Roosevelt HS) also had a strong match, with 13 digs, six kills, no errors and a .462 hitting percentage.

Bentley is also at home Saturday afternoon, a 3 pm match against Merrimack College.