ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - Things got off to a real slow start for the 2011 Bard College women's volleyball team, but they got over it.

After trailing by scores of 10-4 and 16-6 in the first game, Bard rallied to win that game and eventually the match, 3-1, over former Skyline Conference foe SUNY Purchase on Saturday.

Bard won by scores of 27-25, 25-27, 25-21 and 25-18.

The key to the match came in the first game, when the Raptors crept back into it. Purchase's lead went from 16-6, to 20-15, to no lead at all (23-23) after an ace by freshman Jill Nicols. The Panthers had the lead again, 25-24, before back-to-back kills from junior Amaya Chenu and senior Jessica Philpott, and a Purchase hitting error gave the first game to Bard.

In Game 2, Purchase rallied from a 23-19 deficit to win, 27-25, but Bard took the next two games 25-21 and 25-18.

The Raptors had three players finish with double-digit kills: Cara Chalk (17), Amaya Chenu (13) and Mai Aurell-Foulser (11). Freshmen Lexi Cooper and Jill Nicols had great collegiate debuts, contributing 21 assists apiece, and junior Julia Denning had 25 digs.

Bard next plays on Tuesday at The Sage Colleges at 7 p.m. Check back later for statistics from today's game.