Box Score WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley volleyball won its fourth straight on Thursday night with a 3-1 victory over Franklin Pierce in a non-conference match.
Rachel Vitko, the reigning NE10 Player of the Week, and Ellie Wheeler each had 11 kills for the Falcons. Natalie Thom had 20 assists and freshman Elliet Manning had 16.
Bentley cruised through the first two sets by scores of 25-16 and 25-18.
Vitko had five kills in the opening set as Bentley led by as much as nine points at 20-11. A service ace by Ali Stuessi closed the game out.
The second set featured a balanced attack as Wheeler had four kills and Vitko and Elizabeth Blinn each had three. Bentley won nine of the first 10 points and never led by fewer than five points.
The Falcons looked to be headed towards a sweep as they jumped out to an early 8-3 lead in the 3rd set and led 17-12 midway through. But Franklin Pierce fought back and won 13 of the final 19 points to take it 25-22.
The fourth set was close the entire way. The largest lead was three points, for Bentley at 17-14 and 20-17. Franklin Pierce went on a 4-0 run to take a 21-20 lead before two straight points by Bentely gave them a 22-21 advantage.
With the score 22-22 the Falcons won the next two points with a kill by Wheeler and an ace by Manning. The Ravens won the next point to stay alive, but an attack error on the following point closed it out.
Bentley improved to 8-3 on the season with the win. They are back at home on Saturday against Southern New Hampshire.
