WORCESTER, Mass. – Bentley University sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Buckner (San Marino, Calif./San Marino HS) tied her season-high with 12 kills and also served three aces, but the Falcons dropped a 3-1 decision to Assumption College Tuesday night in Northeast-10 Conference women's volleyball at the Laska Gymnasium.

Bentley's only set victory came in the second, 27-25, after the Greyhounds took the opener, 25-19. Assumption regained control with a 25-17 win in the third and finished the match by taking the fourth, 25-16.

Bentley started the second just as it had the first, picking up the first four points. Eight unanswered points by Assumption put the Hounds up 14-7, but the Falcons rebounded to tie four times. A kill by Buckner on the Hounds' second set point tied the score at 25-all, an attack error put the Falcons in front for the first time since 5-4, and another Buckner kill gave the visitors their only set win of the night.

Assumption scored the first six points in the third set, and finished it with a 4-1 spurt. Bentley built a 9-7 advantage in the fourth, but was outscored 18-9 the rest of the way.

Junior Ryan Merle (Skaneateles, N.Y.) powered Assumption (6-8, 1-0 NE-10) with 16 kills and a .519 hitting percentage. Junior Kristin Flatekval (Mahwah, N.J.) delivered 37 assists, and sophomore Ann Donahue (Braintree) served six of the Greyhounds' 11 aces.

Bentley had ten aces in the match, with four by sophomore setter Alex Tator (Los Angeles, Calif./Marlborough School) and three by freshman setter Kyana Miller (San Diego, Calif./Canyon Crest Acad.), in addition to the three by Buckner.

Miller led the Falcons in assists (20), sophomore Lauren Colasanti (Northville, Mich./ Northville HS) made 13 digs, and freshman Jaci Buscher (Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain HS) had seven kills.

Bentley (2-7, 0-2 NE-10) will be back at home this weekend to host the Northeast-10/ECC Challenge, beginning with a Friday night encounter with Dowling College (7 pm).