Blue Devil Women's Volleyball opened its 2025 volleyball season with a hard-fought five-set match, falling just short to Williston State College, 3–2 (25-21, 10-25, 15-25, 25-23, 11-15).

The Blue Devils came out strong, taking the first set 25-21 behind efficient defense and timely attacking. Williston State responded with a surge of offense in the next two frames, hitting .280 and .240 to seize momentum and grab a 2–1 lead.

Riverland refused to fold, battling back in set four with their best offensive showing of the night. The Blue Devils hit .222 in the frame, led by freshman outside hitter Kyana Hutchinson (9 kills, 11 points) and setter Macey Johnson (23 assists, 16 digs), forcing a decisive fifth set.

In the final frame, Williston State's balanced attack proved the difference. Kallee Hopes and Ella Morken each tallied 13 kills, while Patricia Kirby added 9 at a .273 clip. The Tetons finished with 50 total kills and 73 points, closing out the set 15-11 to seal the road victory.

For Riverland, Brienna Brewer registered a team-high 8 kills, while Brea Belting and Brenna Grade combined for 9 kills and strong defensive work at the net. The Blue Devils totaled 88 digs, with Kiah Parkin and Johnson anchoring the back row.

Despite the setback, Riverland showed resilience and flashes of promise in their season opener. They will look to build on this performance as they continue nonconference play.