By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- She has been playing volleyball since freshman year at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in 2018.

Bridgewater State University junior Lily Welch (Hanson, Mass.) has become dedicated to the sport as a player and even as a freshman coach at W-H over the past eight years.

"I like everything about it," said Welch. "I like being part of a team and just having a goal to get better, having something to strive for."

The past three years, Welch has reported to BSU's preseason practices in August and played for the Bears into November, but that is only part of her year-round volleyball participation.

Welch is playing or practicing from the time the calendar flips to January until the year ends in December.

"She doesn't stop playing," said Bears coach Tony daSilveira. "Non-stop, she's in here (the Tinsley Center) all the time.

"She's obsessed with the sport and increasing everything she can do for herself personally on and off the court, being the best person and player and teammate that she can be."

All of that dedication to volleyball has certainly paid off for Welch, a hitter for BSU.

She has been named the Most Valuable Player of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament two years in a row, leading the way as the Bears won back-to-back championships.

Welch, a two-time BSU captain, has also earned All-MASCAC first-team honors for her all-around play.

The Bears (17-4) are getting ready for their second straight appearance in the NCAA Division III tourney. They will be in Medford, Mass., Thursday at 7 p.m. to face 20th-ranked and host Tufts University (22-5).

Welch has appeared in all 61 games in her three seasons at BSU and continues to improve in all areas.

"I think I've gotten a lot better,'' said Welch. "I've worked really hard, playing year round.

"I play a lot, more than we play in the season. We go to all schools to play, pickup games in Brockton, a few hour at Wheaton, Whitman-Hanson, New Bedford, wherever you can play.

"Volleyball is a big part of my life.''

This season, Welch leads BSU in kills (234), hitting percentage (.313) and digs (262) and is second in total blocks (46) and fourth in service aces (31).

She tops the MASCAC in hitting percentage and is second in kills and kills per set.

For the second year in a row, Welch was on top of her game in the conference tournament.

Last season, she averaged 12.5 kills, a .357 hitting percentage, 16.5 digs and five blocks as BSU won its first MASCAC title since 2008.

Last week, Welch equaled a career-high with 17 kills in the semifinal round against Worcester State and had a career-best 19 in the final against Framingham State.

She also averaged 14.5 digs and had hitting percentages of .390 and .441 in the two victories.

"That's awesome," said daSilveira of winning the MVP again. "She really took it to another level. Framingham State has Natalie Reynolds (a two-time conference regular-season Offensive Player of the Year), a middle hitter who leads in kills.

"Lily saw someone on the other side of the net (in the final) that she said is the standard of what this conference is and that 'I want to be there.'"

Welch said it was satisfying to win a second MVP, especially after hitting a lull during a 3-0 loss to UMass Dartmouth on Oct. 17.

"It means a lot to me," said Welch. "I wasn't playing as well during the middle of the season and was getting frustrated.

"After the UMass Dartmouth loss here, I was super frustrated with myself. I didn't think I'd be able to make the goals I wrote for myself at the beginning of the season. To pick it up and win and get the MVP, it feels like all my hard work is worth it, which is nice."

As a freshman, Welch did not serve or play in the back row, manning the middle for the Bears.

She had her role expanded as a sophomore and her game grew.

"Coach gave me a bigger role to fill and it meant a lot," said Welch. "I like the pressure."

Said daSilveira, "We gave her the opportunity prior to the sophomore year. She said, 'What can I do?' I said, 'Become a better passer. The window will open up. You'll see much more opportunities.' She really ran with it all offseason two years in a row and got better."

daSilveira sees even more room for improvement as Welch moves into her senior year in 2026.

"She's gotten a lot better," said daSilveira. "Her mindset is always wanting to be a great player and push herself and work hard. She's always had that in her.

"She can get better. She can toughen up her serve. She still has a lot of room to grow. That's her. There is no cap. Whatever goal she hits, if she gets a career high, she'll be like, 'I've got to get a little better.'"

After graduating from Whitman-Hanson in 2022, Welch took a year off from school.

She did not play volleyball but was coaching the Panthers' freshman team.

Welch finally settled on going to BSU and joined the volleyball team in 2023 and got back to playing the sport she is dedicated to.

"I'm so happy. I wouldn't have it any other way,'' said Welch. "I love playing. I'm not looking forward to graduating (in 2027) and not playing competitively."