Blue Fall 3-1 to Rivier on Saturday

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Wellesley College volleyball team was bested 3-1 (16-25, 22-25, 25-20, 20-25) by Rivier University at Dorothy Towne Fieldhouse on Saturday. 

It was the first game played for Rivier this season, as the Raiders begin the season 1-0. With the loss, Wellesley falls to 1-1 (0-0 NEWMAC).

Senior Nicole Doerges (San Marino, Calif.) led the charge for the Blue, recording a match high 16 kills. Tiffany Shou (San Jose, Calif.) posted a career high eight kills for Wellesley. Junior TylerBell Smith (Frisco, Texas) had an efficient seven kills on 20 attempts (.250). Defensively, junior Claire Bialek (Brookline, Mass.) set the pace with 11 digs, the only Wellesley player to record ten or more digs in the match. Izzy Seebld (Concord, N.C.) stayed hot with the serve, recording six aces. 

Lily Sills (Carlisle, MA) carried the Raiders with 14 kills and right behind was Lily Blodgett (Dunstable, MA) with 13 kills. Sophomore Sofia Pawlusik (Burnt Hills, NY) was stellar defensively, recording a game high 22 digs in her first career match. Cadia Green (North Kingston, R.I.) and Sydney Racevicius (Woodbury, CT) each added six kills for the Raiders.

The first set started as a back and forth affair, with Wellesley taking a 11-10 lead on a kill by Doerges. The Raiders followed with a 8-2 run and took the lead. Wellesley could not recover and dropped the first set 25-16.

The second set followed the same pace as the first, with both teams hanging close. The Blue took a late 17-14 edge after an ace from Seebold. Rivier stormed back, taking a 20-19 lead and had Wellesley on the ropes. The Raiders closed out the second set by a score of 25-22.

The Blue bounced back in the third, finally finding its rhythm. A kill by Smith gave Wellesley a 13-8 lead and forced the Raiders to call a timeout. After the score was notched at 16, the Blue rattled off a 6-1 run and took a 22-17 lead. Wellesley capped off the third set 25-20 and stayed alive. The Raiders would not let the third set deter them, as the team took the fourth and final set by a score of 25-21. 

Wellesley will host Manhattanville on Wednesday, September 8 at 7:00 PM in a non-conference matchup. Rivier remains on the road for a match with New England College on Friday, September 10 at 6:00 PM.