WELLESLEY, Mass. — They’re back. Finally.

The Rivier University women’s volleyball team came out on top Saturday in its first game back on the court since 2019, defeating Wellesley College 3-1 with sets scores of 25-16, 25-22, and 25-21.

The women’s volleyball team, like all fall sports at the school in 2020, did not compete due to COVID-19.

The Raiders jumped out to a quick two set lead on their opponent Wellesley. Senior setter Avery Pollard (Ballston Lake, NY) helped feed outside, and middle hitters Lily Sills (Carlisle, MA) and Lily Blodgett (Dunstable, MA) for a combined 27 kills to go up two sets to none.

The Blue was able to take the third set for Rivier on a combined effort from setter Izzy Seebold to her hitter Nicole Doerges. Seebold tallied 32 assists, with Doerges racking up 16 kills.

The Raiders would come back in the fourth set to finish the match with 14 kills compared to Wellesley’s nine and capture their first victory of the 2021 campaign.

Pollard finished with 38 assists, four kills, and nine digs, while Blodgett had 13 kills and two digs, .357 kill percentage. Sills had 14 kills and a .565 K%.

The Raiders will be back in action this Friday when they travel to New England College with a 6 PM start.

(File photo courtesy of Rivier University)