SALISBURY, N.C. – The University of Montevallo volleyball team took the opening set against Lenoir-Rhyne before dropping three straight sets against the Bears in its 20-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-12 loss in its season-opening match Sept. 6 in the Catawba Classic.

The Bears, who advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament last season, finished the season ranked No. 6 in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings a year ago.

Senior Manyi Ati led the Falcons (0-1) with 13 kills in the match.

Sophomore Rebekah Phelps added 10 kills, while junior Katie Best and sophomore Anna Quinn chipped in five kills each.

Sophomore Briana Marquez recorded the first double-double of her career after posting 12 digs to go along with a team-high 27 assists.

Senior Kaleigh Harvey posted a team-high 34 digs, while Ati, Quinn and sophomore Jessica Falletta registered seven digs each.

Montevallo took the opening set, 25-20.

The Falcons opened the first set with a 6-1 run, which included back-to-back-to-back kills by Best, Phelps and Ati before an attack error by the Bears capped the spurt. Montevallo claimed the opening set after ending the first game on a 5-1 run, which included a pair of kills by Ati.

Lenoir-Rhyne evened the match after clinching the second match, 25-17.

Montevallo opened the second set with a 5-2 run, which began with a kill by Phelps and ended with a kill by Ati. However, the Bears 4-0 run midway through the set to extend a one-point advantage a five-point lead on their way to tying the match.

The Falcons dropped the third set, 25-17. Phelps recorded a kill midway through the set to tie the score at 13-13, but the Bears responded with three consecutive points to gain momentum on their way to taking a 2-1 lead in the match.

Montevallo dropped the final set 25-12 to close out the match.

The Falcons return to action Saturday, Sept. 7 with a pair of matches in the Catawba Classic. Montevallo will face Queens University at 8 a.m. before wrapping up the event against Catawba at 4 p.m.