ALBANY, N.Y. – The Bentley University Falcons denied the College of Saint Rose match point four times in the decisive fifth set, but couldn't do it a fifth time as the Golden Knights prevailed 20-18 to take a 3-2 decision from the visiting Falcons in Northeast-10 Conference women's volleyball Friday night at the Nolan Gymnasium.

With the score even at 18, Saint Rose used kills from freshman Erica Ziskin (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) and sophomore Kelsey Lace (Glendale, R.I.), off a Ziskin set, to complete the 25-21, 21-25, 21-25, 25-18, 20-18 victory.

In the lengthy fifth set, Bentley vaulted out to a 9-4 lead, saw Saint Rose come back to tie it at 10, and fell behind 14-12 before using a kill from junior outside hitter Kaleigh Sullivan (Naples, Fla./ Harley School (N.Y.)) and an ace from junior Lauren Colasanti (Northville, Mich./Northville HS) to tie the score at 14 apiece.

The outcome left the two teams in a tie for second in the conference standings, both at 10-3 with one match left tomorrow. Bentley, 16-9 overall, will be at 12th-place Le Moyne College at 1 pm and Saint Rose, 18-4, will host Stonehill College, one of three teams tied for fourth place.

Sullivan led four Falcons who had double-digits in kills with a career-best 16, with a .324 hitting percentage. Classmate Savannah Dominguez (Miami, Fla./Palmer Trinity HS) followed with a .448 success rate and 15 kills, along with three blocks.

Bentley also received 11 kills apiece from sophomore Jaci Buscher (Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain HS), who also had 16 digs, and junior Tatiana Froehlich (Newton, Mass./Newton North HS). Distributing the ball was junior and reigning Northeast-10 Setter of the Week Alex Tator (Los Angeles, Calif./Marlborough School) with 52. 

Standouts for Saint Rose included senior Alex Gagliano (Cornwall, N.Y.) and junior Tori Daniels (South Hadley, Mass.). Gagliano hit .405 with 16 kills, four aces and five blocks, and Daniels served five aces.

Superior serving by the Golden Knights was a difference as they finished with 15 aces, tying the most by a Falcon opponent this season. On the other hand, Bentley had six aces and 13 serving errors.