CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Bradley held a two games to one lead against Dayton in the season opener for both teams at the Pepsi Challenge in Charleston, Ill., before the Flyers rallied to take the final two games to defeat the Braves 30-26, 27-30, 29-31, 30-27, 17-15.

Senior Lindsay Stalzer had a team-high 20 kills and paced four Bradley players that reached double-digits in kills. Sophomore Nikki Pierzchala posted her first career double-double with 15 kills and 13 digs, while senior Briony Hammet also finished with a double-double after tallying 14 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore Amber DeBroux recorded 12 kills and nine digs to finish just short of a double-double.

After dropping the first game 30-26, Bradley came out swinging in game two, boasting a .326 hitting percentage in game two to even the match at 1-1 with a 30-27 win. The Braves took game three 31-29 to take a 2-1 lead in the match and appeared to be ready to wrap up the match after taking a 26-22 lead in game four before one of the Braves 15 service errors in the match switched the momentum in favor of the Flyers. Bradley committed two service errors and three attack errors during Dayton's 8-1 run to close out the game as the Flyers evened the match at 2-2 with a 30-27 win.

Bradley held a 12-6 lead in game five, before Dayton closed the match with an 11-3 run to win the fifth and deciding game by the score of 17-15.

"They (Dayton) are a good team," said eighth-year head coach Scott Luster. "We had some chances to put them away but just didn't capitalize on them."

Junior Kelly Niemeyer added nine kills and hit at a .471 clip in three games for the Braves. Pierzchala's 15 kills were a career high, while senior Gillian Falknor tied a career-best with 28 digs, helping Bradley to an 84-76 edge in digs. Falknor's 28 digs tied for the ninth best mark in school history.

Stalzer finished with her 15th career 20-kill effort and added six blocks to move into seventh place on the Braves career blocks list.

Bradley returns to action later today when the Braves face tournament-host Eastern Illinois at 7 p.m.