MILWAUKEE -- Alverno College had two exciting sets in the team's Northern Athletics College Conference opener of the 2014 season, but lost to visiting Rockford College 3-0 tonight in Reiman Gymnasium.

The Inferno (4-6, 0-1 NACC) took the Regents (7-8, 1-0) to the brink in the opener, but after leading 22-17, allowed the visitors to take eight of the final nine points for the 25-23 decision.

The second set was a back-and-forth affair, but with the score tied at 21 apiece, the Regents finished off the set with the final four points for a 2-0 lead in the match.

A deflated Alverno team didn't put up much of a battle in the third as Rockford won the final set 25-16 for the three-set sweep that snapped the Inferno's three-match winning streak, and the Regents' five-match skid.

A balanced Rockford attack was led by Ashley Simmons match-high 13 kills and Katelyn Hasken's 10, as the visitors hit .205 with 46 kills. Four Regents reached double-digits digs led by Erin Pederson's 15, and setter Taylor Rossi had match honors with 33 assists.

Emily Ortner led Alverno on both sides of the net with 10 kills and a match-best 18 digs. Cali Trepp and Melissa Weyand chipped in six kills apiece, while Dakota Powless added 14 digs.

Meranda Masse and Chelsey Powless tallied 15 and 11 assists and directed the Inferno's .100 attack percentage on the night.

Alverno takes a brief break from conference play as it co-hosts the Inferno-Angel Classic with Mount Mary University this weekend. The Inferno hosts Silver Lake College in the tournament's opening match in Reiman Gymnasium on Friday at 2 p.m.