BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University volleyball team dropped a tough five-set decision to visiting Salve Regina University on Thursday evening at the Tinsley Center.

The host Bears fall to 7-12 with their fourth straight setback, while the Seahawks improve to 12-9.

Salve battled back from a 2-1 deficit (19-25, 25-17, 25-27) to post a 25-16 win in the fourth set and a 15-4 triumph in the fifth and deciding set.

BSU senior setter Charleyne Panner (Gilford, Mass.) became the Bears' all-time assist leader as well as the first player in program history to reach the 3,000 milestone in the setback. Panner notched 43 assists on the night as she increased her career total to 3,003, She eclipsed Shawna O'Neill's (1998-01) previous program mark of 2,977. The record-breaking assist came in the second set, while the milestone was reached in the fourth set.

In addition to her 43 assists, Panner also tallied six kills, an ace and 11 digs.

Sophomore middle blocker Erin Clifford (Hanson, Mass.) paced the Bears with 13 kills and a .290 hitting percentage, while senior outside hitter Hannah Maymon (Narragansett, R.I.) contributed 13 kills and 13 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Elizabeth Roberts (Swansea, Mass.) checked in with 11 kills and two blocks (one solo).

For the Seahawks, sophomore outside hitter Cassidy Trablicy (Phoenix, Ariz.) led all players with 17 kills, while junior outside hitter Francesca Testani (Shelton, Conn.) and freshman middle blocker Annie Donahue (Chelmsford, Mass.) added 13 and ten kills, respectively. Trablicy, sophomore defensive specialist Megan Parham (Tulsa, Okla.) and sophomore outside hitter Sydney Puffer (Kittery, Maine) finished with three aces apiece. Junior middle blocker Nora Donahue (Braintree, Mass.) chipped in seven kills and three solo blocks, and sophomore setter Erin Proctor (Canton, Mass.) dished out 25 assists.

Salve recorded 11 aces in the match, but also finished with eight serving errors.

The Bears host a tri-match with MASCAC rival Westfield State University and the University of Southern Maine on Saturday starting at noon. The Seahawks are off until next Thursday (Oct. 20) afternoon when they travel to Nichols College for a four o'clock Commonwealth Coast Conference match with the Bison.