The Bard women's volleyball team tussled with the Stevens Ducks and the Cortland Red Dragons on Saturday afternoon in Cortland, N.Y. It was the first time that Bard played Stevens or Cortland.

Against Stevens, the Raptors were able to limit Sarah Bolduc, the Ducks' second leading kill-getter, to five kills, the fewest she has recorded in the past seven matches. Paola De La Cruz and Annika Flittie tied for the team-high in digs, with six. De La Cruz added a team-high three kills and two blocks. Ella Small chipped in five digs and an assist. Fernanda Julian dished out eight assists, adding two digs and a kill. Xenia Vassou and Carmen Merrick each contributed a kill and a block.

Bard did well to hang in with Stevens early. At 13-8 in the first set, the Ducks surged ahead, winning 12 of the final 13 points in the frame. In the second set, the Raptors went up 2-0 before a 12-4 response put Stevens up by six at 12-6. Bard won two of the next three points before a late 12-5 run from the Ducks gave them a 2-0 set advantage. The third set also favored Stevens despite the Raptors' fight.

Versus Cortland, Bard held Kira Pirrera, four-time SUNYAC Offensive Player of the Week and the Red Dragons' kills leader, to just five kills, her lowest total of the season. Small was a key factor, tallying a team-high seven digs. She also had an ace and two assists. Flittie had another well-rounded effort with two kills, five digs, and a block. Fernanda Julian had six assists and four digs in the match. Becca Wintjen recorded two kills and two digs. Nyla Lawrence had a pair of kills, a block, and a dig. Vassou contributed two kills and a block. De La Cruz tallied three digs, a kill, and a block. 

Bard was close through the first nine points, helped by back-to-back points at 2-5. The momentum shifted back to Cortland after an 11-2 run created separation. The final seven points of the set went to the Red Dragons despite the Raptors' good defensive play on fast-paced attacks. The second set went to Cortland due to another efficient offensive set where the Red Dragons hit .458. Bard was on its heels in the early going of the third, as Cortland won 11 of the first 12 points. At 18-4, the Raptors won back-to-back quick points, but the next four went to the Red Dragons. That was met with a 3-0 Bard run, but the comeback was stopped short. 

The Raptors will face Clarkson on Friday at 7 p.m. in Potsdam, N.Y.