Box Score WALTHAM, Mass. – Backed by Sasha Luzina's season high 18 digs, the Bentley volleyball team's defensive efforts continued to shine in a 3-1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-20, 25-23) win over Monroe in the Dana Athletics Center Friday night. It was the Falcons' eighth consecutive win.

The Falcons (9-6) limited the Mustangs (5-5) to a .092 attack percentage, marking the fourth time this year that Bentley has held its opponent to under .100. In addition to Luzina's efforts, Makayla Kuykendall contributed 10 digs, and Aaliyah Price Gooden matched her season high in blocks with seven.

Bentley cruised through the first set, building a lead that reached 18-11. The Mustangs, however, were a different team in the final three frames.

Monroe never trailed in the second set up until an Elliett Manning ace gave Bentley a 21-20 lead. Still, the Mustangs were able to close out the second set with a 5-2 run.

Bentley had difficulty reclaiming momentum as it fell behind in the third set, 14-9. But a kill by Gooden was the start of a 5-0 run that tied the stanza, 14-14.  A short while later, Aria Birdsong put away two kills during a 4-0 Bentley run that gave the home team an 18-16 lead.

The third set was tied, 19-19, when three Monroe errors, and a Lauren Hallas ace, put Bentley ahead, 23-19, effectively sealing the frame.

The Falcons fell behind in the fourth set, 13-8, but Bentley went on a crucial 10-1 run to win the match. The big run started when Monroe had a 17-13 lead, but the Falcons got to within three points when Julia Kleinle put away a kill. Following a Mustang error, Luzina delivered a service ace, Price Gooden notched a kill, and Sophia Poehlein put away consecutive kills. The final point of the run was a service ace by Tory Vitko, giving Bentley a 23-18 lead – and ultimately the victory.

Kleinle finished with 10 kills against Monroe, and Vitko totaled 37 assists.

Bentley has a quick turnaround when it hosts Saint Anselm for a non-conference match Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m.