FRANKLIN, Mass.- Backed by a raucous crowd at Pieri Gymnasium, the Dean College Bulldogs women's volleyball team overcame a first set loss to rally and defeat the Rivier Raiders 3-1 on Wednesday night in a crucial Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup.

At the top of the match, it appeared as if it might be a long night for the Bulldogs. Rivier started fast, taking a commanding lead at 18-9, and never looking back en route to a 25-15 win. Dean responded immediately, taking a 17-13 lead in the second set, and holding on down the stretch for a 25-22 win. The game was capped by kills from sophomores Chloe Demaio (Needham, Mass.) and Olivia Mackinnon (Plymouth, Mass.). 

Dean fell behind 3-1 in the third set, but quickly found its footing, taking control early and dominating play, eventually cruising to a 25-19 win, punctuated by a kill on the final point by junior Caitlin Cooper (Amherst, N.H.). In the final set, Dean took control of a close battle, and stepped on the gas, scoring five of six after both teams were locked at 12. Two kills from senior Janai Price (Providence, R.I.) and one from first-year Maddy Seymour (Simsbury, Conn.) sealed the game down the stretch.

Dean was led by Seymour and Price, who both finished with ten kills. Cooper registered eight kills, and had a team-high .571 hitting percentage. Mackinnon added seven kills and 15 digs, while junior Skylar Raskevitz (Easthampton, Mass.) recorded 18 digs. Senior Anabella Driscoll (Plymouth, Mass.) had a game-high 33 assists. 

The win over Rivier, Dean's first in four total matches, improves the Bulldogs record to 8-11 (4-4 GNAC). The Bulldogs are back in action on Friday when they host Elms College at 7 p.m. in Pieri Gymnasium.